In Time For Earth Day, Laurel Launches One And Done Program To Streamline Collections

LAUREL, MD — The city of Laurel launched its new One and Done program on Earth Day Friday, a program that allows for recycling, trash and compost collection to be done once weekly. With this new program, all households will receive a new blue cart for recycling and a black cart for trash. The new carts roll easily to the curb, provide large capacity for materials and the attached lids help keep contents from blowing away, officials said at a news conference.

“As the city works to improve our sustainable practices, the One and Done Program will assist in continuing to protect our environment, reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and enhance the efficiency of our trash, recycling, and composting collections,” Laurel Mayor Craig A. Moe said.

To improve the recycling program for residents, the city of Laurel applied for and received a $112,000 grant from The Recycling Partnership, the nonprofit that helps communities achieve economically efficient recycling programs. The grant will help defray the cost of the 13,000 carts the city purchased and provided funds to develop resident education and outreach materials about the new collection process.

The Recycling Partnership estimates the new recycling carts will enable the collection of more than 732,000 pounds of valuable recyclables that can then be transformed into new products and packaging. Rehrig Pacific, the cart supplier, uses post-consumer recycled plastic and recycled ocean-bound plastic found in and near lakes, beaches and waterways to manufacture the carts. The amount of recycled plastic material used is the equivalent of more than 240,000 empty 1-gallon milk jugs.

Residents can continue to do their part by placing only recyclable materials in carts, including glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, food and beverage cartons, paper products including newspapers and flattened cardboard, and empty plastic bottles and containers. To help limit trash in the recycling, only place empty and dry items accepted for recycling into the recycling cart – loose and not in bags.

Some items that cannot be recycled include plastic bags, foam blocks or to-go containers, paper towels, electrical equipment, batteries and clothing.

Carts will be delivered to homes starting April 22. The One and Done Collection Program begins May 2. The new recycling carts will replace the green recycling carts currently used. The city will be collecting the old, green recycling bins and carts. Place the green bins or carts at the curb and they will be removed. A resident's current recycling day will become the One and Done collection day. Find the full schedule on the program’s site at www.cityoflaurel.org/OneAndDone.