Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 25, 1990 TAG: 9007250224
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
According to information released by town officials Tuesday, town residents since mid-May have turned in twice the amount of recyclables expected. By the end of June, one-third of the town's solid waste was being recycled.
Collecting the refuse has put a severe strain on Public Works Department personnel and equipment, and has prompted complaints from citizens who said the recyclables were piling up in their homes between the biweekly collections.
Beginning Monday, the town will pick up recylables once a week, on the same day regular household refuse is collected. Brush and yard waste will be collected on the second and fourth weeks of the month, as it is now.
Garbarge and recyclables will be picked up downtown on Wednesdays and Fridays. The Monday downtown collection will be eliminated.
The town also will establish a recycling center at the Public Works Department, and may eventually purchase large commercial trash containers for the center to save rental costs.
The changes, said Town Manager George Nester, should eliminate some confusion about what will be collected, when. It also will reduce the time town employees spend on collection each day. Town officials will hold a meeting in September to hear citizens' reactions to the program and the recent changes.
The town's recycling committee also asked to remind citizens that the program is not ready to handle polystyrene products such as hot-drink cups and food containers, or non-aluminum metal cans. Only aluminum cans, which do not attract magnets, can be recycled.
Plastic containers that have come into contact with meat, as well as used or dirty paper, should be put with the regular garbage, Nester said.
by CNB