Marty Gordon
Contributing writer
Curbside recycling is just around the corner for Christiansburg residents, and this week, town staff covered some of the details of the new program during one of two informational meetings.
“Offering curbside recycling has long been a goal for the Town of Christiansburg, and it speaks directly to our Destination 2022 vision of being a ‘Clean and Green, Healthy and Safe’ community,” Mayor Mike Barber said in a press release. “We know our community is recycling regularly – our five recycling collection sites are almost always full. We want to offer this service to continue encouraging this good behavior, while making the actual action of recycling easier for our residents. We feel it’s important to promote environmental sustainability, and it’s another way we are looking to improve the quality of life in our community.”
Town council approved recently a $5 increase in the solid waste collection fee from $17 to $22 that is tied directly to the addition of the recycling program beginning July 1.
A private company, Waste Industries, will provide the curbside service to the town. The company was awarded the contract earlier spring and will pickup recycling every other week from all residents currently registered for solid waste collection with the town.
Curbside recycling was included as a goal in the town’s “Destination 2020 Vision for a Clean and Green, Healthy and Safe community.”
Every household will receive a recycling roll-around cart if they currently receive town solid waste collection.
Two sizes will be available: 65- and 96-gallon carts. Typically, each home will receive the larger cart, but if the home currently has a 48-gallon solid waste cart, they you will receive the 65-gallon recycling cart.
Public Works Director Jim Lancianese said carts will be delivered in early June. Homes will receive a frequently asked question sheet, information on what can or cannot be recycled, and how to place the cart on the curb in order to be picked up.
“A magnet pickup calendar with your exact collection dates will be attached to your recycling cart when it is delivered during the first two weeks of June,” he said
The schedule for example means: If your waste collection is on Monday then recycling will be picked up every other Monday.
While solid waste collection through the town of Christiansburg, according to Lancianese, is not mandatory for residents, those who have the service will be required to have curbside recycling.
If a resident does not want the curbside recycling, they would have to stop their trash pickup as well.
Some residents have questioned whether the recycling drop off sites will be kept open. For now, the town is evaluating what sites could remain open depending on the volume of curbside service.
As part of the meeting, residents learned number plastic coded 3-7 along with aluminum food containers and shredded paper will not be accepted. Residents were told to throw these items away with their regular trash.
In addition, electronics, Styrofoam, plastic bags, food waste and wires cannot be recycled.
The single-stream service does mean all recyclables can be placed together in one container. Items that will be accepted included newspapers cardboard, cereal and tissue boxes, glass bottles and jars, metal cans and certain plastics.
Assistance will be able to persons who unable to move the recycling cart to the street. Staff from the town’s public works will be available by calling 382-9519.
Another information meeting is slated for 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, June 5 on the second floor of the Christiansburg Town Hall.
Additional information is available at the town’s farmer’s market on Thursdays, online at the town’s Facebook page, on utility bills, or at www.christiansburg.org/recyclng.
