City to Switch from Bin to Cart Recycling

will be rolling out a early next year that city staff and council members hope will increase participation and decrease truck traffic in residential areas.

The new program—set to take effect in January—replaces the current bins with a cart system and will move from a weekly to an every-other-week pickup.

The change will save the city about $32,000 in pick-up fees, according to Public Works Director Jeannine Clancy. The city will save an additional $10,000 because the new contractor, Allied Waste, will provide wheeled carts for residents.

Mayor Linda Loomis said there have been complaints about the bin program because of debris left behind on windy days.

Clancy said staff in her office took complaints, as well.

“It seems like in the last year, we’ve gotten a lot of phone calls asking to switch from the bin program to the carts, so we’re hoping the program will be well-received,” she said.

Once the program begins, residents will receive a 64-gallon cart, which later can be traded in for a larger or smaller size if needed. Recyclables accepted include all those recommended by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Hennepin County Environmental Services Commission, according to Clancy.

Golden Valley staff works with Plymouth and Minnetonka to provide recycling pickup for its residents. The Plymouth City Council has approved the new program; Minnetonka officials are scheduled to come to a decision this month.