Single-Sort Recycling Now Reality for Edina Residents

Cardboard, plastic food containers, aluminum cans and glass bottles can all co-exist in harmony inside of Edina recycling carts, as the city switched to a single-sort system on Oct. 1.

Allied Waste recently dropped off new, 65-gallon carts to Edina residents through the last two weeks of September, replacing the old green recycling bins. The new seven-year contract allows residents to simply toss all of their recyclables into the cart—without any sorting involved—and wheel it out to the curb.

Solvei Wilmot, the City of Edina's Recycling Coordinator, said she expects recycling in the city could increase by as much as 20 percent by switching to a single-sort program.

"Single-sort is going to be great for Edina," Wilmot said. "It's going to make recycling really easy. All recyclables can be commingled in one container."

The change to single-sort also brings about a change in the frequency of collection. While recyclables used to be hauled off every single week, Allied Waste will now be coming to residences once every other week. That switch is largely due to the expanded size of the recycling container.

Alongside the switch to single-sort recycling, many items that previously were not accepted can now be recycled. Plastics No. 1-7, which includes plastic food containers, yogurt cups, cottage cheese containers, paper milk and juice boxes and bagged plastic retail bags are all able to be recycled by Allied Waste.

Edinans will be able to upgrade or downgrade the size of their recycling carts over time, but Wilmot recommends residents use the 65-gallon carts for about a month before making any sort of decision on what size would be best for them.

Much like the old bins and garbage receptacles, recycling carts must be stored so they are not visible from the street within 12 hours of collection times. On collection days, the carts should be wheeled out to the curb by 7 a.m.

So what happens to all of the green bins? Residents are free to keep them for the time being, or they can drop the bins off through Friday, Oct. 26, in a large container at Rosland Park (4300 W. 66th St.) or at the former Public Works Building (5146 Eden Ave.).

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