Do our recyclables really get recycled?

[Dog Walker]

At least in the areas where the city is picking up the recycle bins, they have had to switch to using the regular garbage trucks because the amount of stuff being recycled has gone up so much.  The old recycle trucks couldn't hold all of it.

This may have given some people the impression that garbage and recycle were being mixed together.  The City Solid Waste department also doesn't pick up garbage and recycle on the same days.

Can't speak for the areas that are serviced by contractors.

[BridgeTroll]

http://www.coj.net/departments/public-works/solid-waste/recycling/curbside-recycling.aspx

Single-family residents can recycle all of these items curbside in their *blue bin:

•Plastic food containers, beverage containers, detergent bottles, cleaning containers, all plastics that are labeled 1 - 7  Labels do not need to be removed. Plastic bags are accepted.
•Styrofoam: Plastic Category #6 (Large styrofoam items need to be broken up and placed inside the blue bins.)
•Glass bottles and jars; please place tops/lids in garbage; labels do not need to be removed)
•Newspapers and inserts, craft paper, paper towel cores (on rainy days, please hold until next collection day)
•Magazines, catalogs, paperback books & telephone books
•Shredded paper must be bagged
•Brown paper bags (can also be used to hold excess recyclables)
•Corrugated cardboard (flattened and cut in pieces 2' by 3' or smaller)
•Metal and aluminum cans, empty areosol cans, aluminum baking tins
•Steel Food containers
•Paperboard cartons and boxes (including milk, juice, broth, soup and other food and drink containers).

[Overstreet]

My "blue bin" is green with a yellow lid.

[CityLife]

My "blue bin" is green with a yellow lid.

Yea the new large toter recycle can is huge, and I've heard has lead to much higher recycling rates. Basically, you never have to worry about overflow and can store your recyclables until its full. I only need to take it out once or twice a month. Its also much easier than dragging out 2 of the old blue bins.

[ProjectMaximus]

My "blue bin" is green with a yellow lid.

Yea the new large toter recycle can is huge, and I've heard has lead to much higher recycling rates. Basically, you never have to worry about overflow and can store your recyclables until its full. I only need to take it out once or twice a month. Its also much easier than dragging out 2 of the old blue bins.

Except that, at least for my parents, collection went from once a week to every two weeks.

But yes, it's much easier to pull down the driveway and you have to do it half as often.

[CityLife]

^That's right, they only come every other week...which reduces manpower costs, fuel costs, emissions, and wear and tear on vehicles. Its also easier for people who keep their trash and recyclables outside. With the blue bins you can't keep magazines, papers, or cardboard in your bins. Now you can.