Recycling customers asked to help prevent contamination of recycling stream

The City of Douglas along with Transwaste/Waste Industries would like to encourage citizens to be conscious of what is placed in recycling carts. Recycling carts are being used by some customers as regular trash receptacles, which is unacceptable. 

“We have a problem with contamination of the recycling stream,” says City Manager Terrell Jacobs.  “If a citizen is participating in the recycling program, it is their responsibility to only place recyclables in the recycling cart which has a blue lid.  Citizens should not use their recycling cart for household garbage or food disposal.”

Recycling carts should not contain food products or household garbage.  Recycling carts that are being used as a regular garbage container will not be emptied on pick up days.  Recycling carts that are being used to for brown/white good pickup will not be emptied.
Recycling carts will be removed from the residence of those who continue to contaminate and improperly use the recycling carts. The recycling program is available to any person in the city limits of Douglas.  Each household who participates in the program is located in one of two pickup zones, either A or B, which determines when the recycling cart will be emptied.   Households located south of Ward Street are in week A zone.  Households located north of Ward Street are in week B zone.  For a map of the zone locations, please go to www.cityofdouglas.com/recycling.

Participating citizens are asked to be mindful of what is placed in the blue recycling cart.  The list of recyclable items are: newspapers, magazines, phone books, catalogues, cardboard boxes (all packing material such as styrofoam, bubble wrap, tape, etc. must be removed), food boxes (all interior food-liners and food must be removed), shoe boxes, gift boxes and all boxes of this type, office paper, junk mail, and frozen food boxes (any paper product except paper towels and other hygiene paper products , and no paper plates or cups and no plastic laminated paper). Other acceptable items are aluminum beverage cans, steel or tin food cans and aerosol spray cans, and plastic bottles--remove all lids and empty container.  All plastic and metal containers should be rinsed with water.  For a full listing of recyclables, please visit the website at www.cityofdouglas.com/recycling.

Please remember to place debris in a trash bag prior to placing in the receptacle and properly place cart on day of pickup.  Failing to bag trash prior to placement in the container, will cause excess litter/debris on streets and yards.  Place cart in proper position for side loader trucks to empty carts.  Failing to place the cart properly will result in the cart not being emptied on pickup day. After pickup, remove the recycling cart from curbside no later than 6 a.m. following pickup day.

If you are not participating in the recycling program and would like to start, please call 912-384-6001, 912-384-3302, dial 311 or visit the website at www.cityofdouglas.com/recycling to request a form to participate.

To report repairs for trash or recycling carts, please contact Transwaste at (912) 384-6001. 

- Submitted by the City of Douglas