Hamilton council is being asked to impose a one-bag or one-can-a-week garbage limit starting in March. The present limit is three containers.

Violators would be warned until Jan. 16, 2009 when bylaw officers would start laying charges.

The staff recommendation, backed by the citizen-led Waste Reduction Task Force, goes to council's public works committee Monday.

It includes exemptions for medical reasons and for families with three or more children under five. The rule would also be relaxed for three weeks after Victoria, Thanksgiving and New Year's days, when up to three bags would be allowed.

Committee chair Margaret McCarthy says she expects resistance from some councillors and some voters, but feels the move is necessary if the city is to succeed in getting householders to put 65 per cent of their waste into blue boxes and green carts instead of garbage bags.