Single-Bin Recycling Hits Streets Of Sarasota

SARASOTA, FL — Single-bin recycling has literally hit the streets of Sarasota. City workers have begun dropping off 15,000 new yellow and green bins from a moving truck ahead of next month's official rollout of the enhanced recycling service.

Starting on April 1, residents will no longer be required to separate paper from glass and plastics. Everything will now go into a single, covered bin.

Sign up for our free Sarasota daily newsletter and news alerts

"With the switch to single-stream recycling and a single cart, the hope is that it will make it easier for citizens to recycle and divert more items from the landfill," the city's Jason Bartolone told Patch.

The 65-gallon carts replace smaller bins that have been used for residential recycling in the past.

The new bins come with wheels for easier maneuverability and attached lids to keep recyclables dry.

Sarasota has an agreement with Waste Pro, which handles the sorting and processing at its local facility, according to Bartolone. The City’s Solid Waste division of the Public Works Department will take over recycling and bulk waste item collection starting in April.

Residents in nearby Bradenton will continue to separate their recyclables but a representative of the city's Solid Waste Department said that officials there are also looking into single-bin recycling.

Meanwhile, Lakeland residents have had single-bin recycling since about 2013, according to Kathie Gouker in the Lakeland Solid Waste Department. She said it's more convenient for residents.

"I think it’s much easier for them," she told Patch. "They don’t have to worry about separating their items."

Lakeland residents must remove plastic bags and pizza boxes from their recyclables, something that Sarasota residents will also have to get accustomed to doing.

Gouker suggests taking the bags to any Publix or Walmart, where the bags are collected for recycling.

"Plastic bags jam up in the equipment. Then they have to stop the line and get it out," she explained.

Sarasota residents can start using their new bins on regular collection days beginning April 1. The old recycling bins should be placed curbside for pickup during the month of April. They will either be used for something else or recycled.

"City officials ask that residents continue to do their part by placing only recyclable materials in their carts, including aluminum and steel cans, food and beverage cartons, glass bottles and jars, paper products (newspaper, magazines and flattened cardboard) and empty plastic bottles and containers," Sarasota officials said.

Items that can’t be recycled in Sarasota include plastic bags, pizza boxes, clothing, linens, anything containing food or liquid and any wires, hoses or chains that could tangle recycling equipment.

"These items often get mixed into recycling carts because of what’s known as 'wishcycling,' or hoping that they can be recyclable – but they can cause serious issues, according to Sarasota officials.

“Those types of items contaminate the truckload and could cause delays and shutdowns of our recycling process, damage the sorting equipment or even injure our workers,” added Sarsota Public Works General Manager Todd Kucharski. “Decreased production and increased operational costs can ultimately cause your utility bills to go up. Please do your part to recycle smart.”

Take a video tour of a single-stream recycling facility below courtesy Van Dyk Recycling Solutions:

Sarasota received a grant of more than $100,000 from The Recycling Partnership to help pay for the new carts.

The city was one of six cities nationwide to receive the nonprofit’s Coastal and Waterway Community Recycling Grant, which also includes funding for education, outreach and litter cleanup activities.

“This grant will be a big boost in helping us to promote recycling and make it easier for people to do their part in protecting our environment,” said Sustainability Manager Stevie Freeman-Montes. “Recycling is especially critical in a coastal community like Sarasota, where plastics and other harmful materials can be diverted from our shores and waterways.”

For more information about Sarasota's recycling program contact the Solid Waste Division at 941-365-7651 or visit sarasotafl.gov/becartsmart. For information on Lakeland's recycling program call 863-834-8773. For information on Bradenton's recycling program call 941-708-6340.