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Columbus, OH 43215
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RecyColumbus Offers Tips On How To Be A Great Recycler

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release 
May 31, 2013 

For More Information:
John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798
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RecyColumbus Offers Tips On How To Be A Great Recycler



Residents’ response to citywide recycling has been great and continues to grow. If you or your neighbors still need some tips on what can and can't be recycled, here's the word straight from RecyColumbus.

Recycling
Recycling Tips:

•           No sorting required.
•           If you keep your recyclables in a plastic bag before carrying them to the cart, don't put the bag into the cart. Instead, empty the bag into the cart, then throw the bag into the trash.
•           Lids, caps, and labels can be kept on recyclable containers.
•           Do not place dirty recyclables, like un-rinsed jars, in the cart.
•           Refer to the graphic on the lid of your blue cart if you are unsure whether or not an item is recyclable.

A Helping Hand for Our Recycling Crews

Recycling is easy: just drop items in the blue cart and roll the cart to the same location as your regular trash container on pick-up day, every other week.

That's two weeks’ worth of recycling, and that can be a heavy load. But our recycling crews do not have to be all muscle to empty the blue carts into those big white trucks.

We've got an "app" for that ... or rather, we have an arm.

Rumpke is equipping more and more of their trucks with automated arms and front-loading bins. The automated hydraulic arm latches onto the blue carts and tips them into a separate front-loading bin that is attached to the front of the truck. As the bin is filled, it gets hoisted and emptied into the top of the truck.  The mechanical arm greatly improves the safety, speed, and efficiency of collection, allowing Rumpke to collect more recycling over a shorter period of time.

To help with collection, place the cart within one foot of the curb or alley, at least three feet from trash or other recycling carts, with the arrow facing outward. This will give the arm room to maneuver.

Remember: recycling is collected in the same location as your trash, and the blue cart must be placed out for collection by 6 a.m. on your collection day. After collection, containers must be removed and stored within 24 hours.

Yard Waste Collection Season Is Here

And just a reminder: Recycling is collected every other week alternating with yard waste. Yard waste will continue to be collected in biodegradable bags or a separate rigid container, not in the blue cart.

We've Got the Blues. And That's Great!

Columbus has the blues, but we're not sad. Our kind of blues makes us smile ... blue carts, that is. We're filling them up with more and more recyclables and that's making us greener by diverting more waste from landfills and saving money by avoiding landfill fees.

Here are the latest numbers:

April saw a total tonnage of 2,517 tons of recycled materials diverted from landfills and reused to make products. Landfill savings totaled $139,595 as a result of your recycling efforts.

For the year, so far, 9,841 tons of recyclables have been collected, saving a total of $545,571 in landfill fees. That's over a half-million dollars saved in just the first four months of 2013.

Earth Day Meets the Fantastic Recycling Band!

Check out who’s layin’ down the beat with our RecyColumbus Band. Mayor Coleman sat in with the band at the city’s annual Earth Day celebration at Columbus Commons. City Council Member Eileen Paley was also there to celebrate our green city.

The RecyColumbus Band is a hit wherever it goes.  Got an event and think they’d be a hit with your crowd?  Let RecyColumbus know and we can also a supply a volunteer to pass out information on RecyColumbus. Program questions are answered online or at 645-3111.

One Blue Cart Not Enough?

For just $40, you can buy a second blue cart and double what you recycle! Visit RecyColumbus to make your order.

City of Columbus
Department of Public Service
109 North Front Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Office: (614) 645-3111
Email: [email protected]
Hours: 7 AM-6 PM
www.RecycleColumbus.org

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