After Town Council’s approval last month of a new waste management contract, Bluffton residents will soon see some minor changes to their services.
The new contract will replace 18-gallon recycling bins with a 96-gallon cart, which is the same size as residents’ current trash carts.
A town news release said recycling services will be scheduled for every other week, rather than the current weekly cycle, because of the size of the new carts.
The new carts, with a yellow lid marked “recycling only,” will be delivered to each house in the town starting June 22, the release said.
“Waste Management has two weeks to finish delivery of the new recycling carts before the new service schedule begins July 6,” the release said.
A brochure will be attached to the new carts detailing the new recycling schedule for each neighborhood. Waste collection schedules will remain unchanged.
“This contract incorporates feedback from the community, as many residents have expressed the need for a larger recycling capacity,” town manager Marc Orlando said. “The town will provide larger recycling carts enabling every resident to do their part to protect our natural resources and environment.”
The release said residents are encouraged to keep their existing 18-gallon bin in their home or office to collect recyclables and then transport them to the new 96-gallon recycling cart.
The brochure will include a reminder of what materials can be recycled and what materials cannot and should be discarded in the trash.
Plastic bottles (caps should be thrown away), plastic containers, food and beverage cans, paper, flattened cardboard and paperboard, and glass bottles and containers will be accepted.
Food and liquids, foam cups and containers, batteries, green waste, clothing, furniture and carpet, and plastic bags are not accepted. Residents are reminded to never bag recyclables; just place them directly in the cart.
Waste Management is also rolling out on-call, prepaid pickup service for bulk items.
“Beginning July 6, bulk services will need to be scheduled in advance by calling Waste Management Customer Service (1-888-964-9730) or by email at southatlantic-cs@wm.com,” the release said. “The $25 charge per bulk item must be prepaid by the resident when the pickup is scheduled.”
Bulk items include furniture, mattresses, box springs and cloth furniture, washing machines and dryers.
“Items which are not acceptable for this pick-up service include anti-freeze, car parts, tires, gasoline, electronics, batteries, propane tanks, dirt, gravel, rocks, stone, sod, lawn mowers, concrete, cement, bricks and roofing shingles,” the release said.