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 Solid
Waste Services and Regional Recycling Center employees
recently kicked off a “red tag” campaign aimed at reducing
contamination in the city’s curbside recycling program.
Blue recycling carts in neighborhoods citywide will be
inspected, and those found to be in violation of the city’s
recycling ordinance will be tagged with a red card that
explains the proper recycling procedures. Carts receiving a
red tag will not be emptied.
During recent inspections of recycling carts, employees have
found everything
from food, dead animals and dirty diapers to non-recyclable
items like glass, Styrofoam and other types of household
trash. These items can contaminate the recycling stream and
ruin an entire neighborhood’s collections.
The blue recycling carts, which belong to the city, will be
removed for 30 days if they receive three red tags.
Residents can request to have their cart returned after the
probation period ends. Any additional red tags after a cart
is returned will result in the permanent removal of that
cart.
 Yellow
tags are being placed on carts that, while not contaminated,
don’t exactly meet the city’s recycling guidelines. Carts
receiving a yellow tag will be emptied on their scheduled
collection days.
Recycling saves the city money through landfill avoidance
costs, and the sale of recyclable material helps offset the
cost of collection. Keeping costs low helps the city avoid
increases in collection fees and taxes for its citizens.
Proper recycling procedures can be found on the city’s
website. Call Solid Waste Services at 633-0281, or the
city’s recycling coordinator at 633-0340, for more
information on the red tag program. |
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