Providence Increases Citywide Recycling Rate to 25 Percent in December

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Waste Management collecting old curbside recycling totes week of January 28.

Providence residents have improved their average recycling rate from below 15 percent before the new Big Green Can Recycling program to more 25 percent last month.

The recycling rate measures the tons of recyclable materials as a percentage of the total tons of garbage that residents put out for curbside collection. At the current rate, the City expects to save an additional $250,000 in 2013 by reducing tipping fees at the Central Landfill.

"My administration is taking critical steps to increase Providence's recycling rate and make our City a more sustainable and livable place for everyone, and I am proud that our efforts are having a positive impact," said Mayor Angel Taveras. "Recycling only works when everyone participates. Together, we are ensuring a better future for our children and saving our City money."

As of December 31, 2012, the City had finished delivering nearly 54,000 new trash carts to households across Providence. Over the next several weeks, Waste Management crews will continue to replace the lids of Big Green Cans with new bright blue lids that have instructions about the new recycling program.

Residents should now put only recyclable materials in the Big Green Can and use the new 65-gallon gray barrel for trash. A truckload of recyclables contaminated with trash improperly put into the Big Green Cans can result in the load being rejected at the landfill and a potential fine to the property owner.

Waste Management will no longer collect recycling from the small blue and green totes due to the conversion to the new recycling system. In the coming weeks, Waste Management will be switching from manual recycling collection to a mechanical system that is unable to pick up the old blue and green totes. The new collection vehicles will be powered by compressed natural gas and are cleaner and quieter than the old trucks.

Waste Management collecting old curbside recycling totes week of January 28

During the week of January 28, 2013, Providence residents who want to dispose of their old recycling bins should leave the empty blue and green totes at the curbside on their usual collection day to be picked up.

Waste Management will collect empty small blue and green totes curbside for one week only.

In addition, residents may keep their old blue and green totes for storage around the house or return them to the Department of Public Works during normal business hours, as well as on Thursdays 3-7pm and Saturdays 7am-1pm.

The City will maintain a "no bin, no barrel" policy for all garbage and recyclables collection: Residents who do not put their Big Green Can out on the curb on their collection day run the risk of not having their other trash picked up.

For more information about the Big Green Can Just Got Greener campaign, visit www.providenceri.com/sustainability.

For questions regarding tote collection or if you have not yet received your new gray barrel, call the Department of Public Works at 401-467-7950.