Ready, Set ... New Recycle Containters & Schedule Heading Our Way

Coming in the mail this week is information from the town's Public Works Department on EG's new recycling program. Don't cast it aside!

Starting Monday, Sept. 9, the town will be giving every household a bright blue 96-gallon "toter" on wheels that's meant to hold two-weeks-worth of recyclables (paper, plastic and glass all together). For the next two weeks, put all your recyclables in the new container. Then, starting Monday, Sept. 23, the town will collect the contents of the toter on an every-other-week basis. 
Don't panic – regular household trash will continue to be picked up on a weekly basis. 

There are two reasons for the switch to every other week. The main reason is savings. By going to an every-other-week pickup schedule, the town will spend about $50,000 less on refuse removal in the next year. 

The second reason is a hoped-for increase in recyclables – i.e., more savings. That's because the more trash the town can divert from the landfill by recycling, the lower the town's overall trash "tipping" fees. 

According to Public Works director Joe Duarte, East Greenwich already does a good job recycling. East Greenwich recycles 30 percent of its total trash – 40 percent when you count yard waste and everything that’s dropped at the transfer station, said Duarte.

“That’s fantastic. Most communities, if they can reach 25 percent they’ve done really well.”

Based on that, Duarte said, "I don’t think this is going to be a very big problem for our residents. They’ve demonstrated that they have a willingness to recycle. The only inconvenience is that it’s going to be every other week. That’s the only thing that’s going to be a concern."

Some residents have expressed concern that one 96-gallon toter will not be enough. To them, Duarte says, give it a try first, and use the old bins for overflow, if necessary. If you really are able to fill more than one new container in two weeks, you need to contact the Public Works department 

Alternatively, if you live alone or are afraid you will not be able to handle the larger container, Duarte also encourages you to give the new container a try first. If it really is a no-go, contact Public Works and an alternative will be found.

If you have questions, contact East Greenwich DPW at: 401-886-8620 or 401-886-8621, or send an email to abartolomeo@eastgreenwichri.com or mperry@eastgreenwichri.com.

Here's a story about the program that ran earlier this month: http://eastgreenwich.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/everyotherweek-recycling-to-begin-in-...