Some homeowners in the city of Macon now have a chance to go green at home. The city expanded its recycling program to some homes in north and east Macon.
Sue wrote to us asking "what are the rules for the new recycling containers that were delivered? Do we just put anything recycable in them or do different types of items need to be bagged separately?"
Margo Murdock couldn't wait to get started filling up her new recycling bin from the city of Macon. She says, about half of her trash has now found its way into her new blue bin.
"I hate to waste things, I hate to see things just go to the landfill," said Murdock. She says she tries to do other environmentally-friendly things like using a low-flow toilet and
Larry Dunning, assistant director of Macon's Public Works Department says the city added 1,000 homes to its recycling programs and eight public schools as well; Southwest High, Central High, Ballard Middle, Ingram - Pye Elementary, Alexander II Elementary, Hartley Elementary, and Burdell - Hunt Elementary Schools, as well as the Early Childhood Center.
He says the homes join 1,000 households already participating in a Macon recycling project.
Dunning says the program is single stream, meaning people don't have to sort their items. Everything can go in the 65-gallon roll cart together.
"Everything goes into one stream, and the company we will send it to will do the separating," said Dunning.
According to Dunning the following items are okay for recycling:
Clean paper
- Mail
- Flattened cardboard
- Newspaper, magazines, catalogs
- Phone books, paperback books
- Plastic bottles and jugs (no caps or lids)
- Wrapping paper (no foil or ribbons)
- Aluminum steel and tin-plated cans
- Clean plastic dairy tubs (i.e. yogurt, margarine)
Do not place the following items in your recycling bin:
- Glass
- Food residue
- Plastic bags
- Styrofoam
- Plastic cups, plates, or utensils
- Shredded Paper
- Ceramics or dishes
- Light bulbs or florescent tubes
- Mirrors or window glass
- Prescription Vials or syringes
- Sharp or Greasy Metal
- Aluminum foil or trays
- Containers that held toxic or hazardous materials
- Liquids
A letter from the city to people involved in the program said people who don't comply with the rules could have their service discontinued.
"If it's paper, plastic or a can, it goes in the blue box, everything else goes in the green box. It's kinda like sorting laundry, no too difficult," said Murdock.
A truck picks up the recycling every second and fourth Thursday for the new coverage area. All you have to do is roll the cart out to face the street as you would your regular trash can.
Dunning says each bin has a serial number on the front that matches the bin to the home. If you move, he says you should notify the city so a new homeowner can be matched to the bin when they move in.
The expanded programs new recycling was set to begin last week. Those involved should have been notified by the city and received a new bin.
If you have any question you can contact Macon's Public Works Department at 478-751-9125.