BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- Village residents will have to begin using paper bags for leaf and grass clippings beginning on Friday after a new local law goes into effect.

Village trustees approved the measure to switch to paper bags last July but held off on the implementation to allow residents the opportunity to use up existing plastic bags and begin the transition to paper.

Residents who still wish to use plastic bags can do so but must take their leaves and clippings to the Department of Public Works location on South Main Street, officials say.

The change to paper bags was championed by DPW Superintendent Marty Miller, who said it will save both time and money for the village and its employees in the long run.

According to Mayor Greg Paquin, DPW workers would have to rip open plastic bags to then dump leaves and clippings into refuse trucks, which was described as "an inefficient process."

Though a public hearing was held before the law was changed, only a handful of residents attended to voice concerns about the conversion to paper bags.

One major concern raised by multiple residents was the lack of availability of bags and the cost.

More bags would have to be used to remove the same amount of leaves because paper bags are much smaller, residents said.

Miller, Paquin and Village Administrator Monique Chatland all commented that efforts were going to be made to ensure a steady supply of bags at multiple locations throughout the village, including Home Depot, Triple A, Way-Mart and potentially other locations like Price Chopper, BJ's and dollar stores.

Miller had also suggested a buy-in by the DPW Department to buy the bags in bulk to get a lower price, which would then allow the village to sell the bags to residents at cost to save residents money.

Another resident commented that in years prior, bags would sit at the curb for days on end and could hold up to rain storms.

With paper bags, however, the resident said one rain storm would make the bags "flimsy" or fall apart before they could be picked up.

Paquin assured residents that DPW workers would be efficient and timely in collections.

Though laws regarding leaves and clippings have changed, tree branches and trimmings will be picked up just the same in April, May, September and October, Miller previously said.

All branches or trimmings cannot exceed 10 feet in length with a diameter no larger than eight inches.

Total accumulation is to not exceed eight cubic yards, loose, according to local laws.

In the event that a special event were to occur, like a wind storm that knocks down trees, the Superintendent of Public Works has the discretion to approve additional collections, officials say.