GREENFIELD — After their next recycling pickup, residents should stop putting recyclables in their old 18-gallon bins, as new wheeled carts will be arriving any day now.
Residents do not need to do anything to receive their new recycling cart. According to Greenfield’s Communications Director Jonathon Weber, every household and each unit in multi-family structures that are eligible for municipal collection will receive a cart, which the Department of Public Works will deliver to residences over the next two weeks.
The carts are being paid for through a nearly $2.06 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of the city’s rollout of a new automated, single-stream recycling program. The program will use automated trucking equipment to hook onto the carts and lift them to be emptied.
In a statement, Mayor Ginny Desorgher said the new process will significantly reduce the risk of injury for DPW workers who previously had to lift and manually empty the recycling bins.
“This is a major step forward for Greenfield,” Desorgher said. “By moving to an automated single-stream system, we are making recycling easier for our residents while ensuring the long-term safety and health of our hardworking city employees. We are grateful for the EPA’s support in helping us build a more sustainable and efficient community.”
Residents do not have to return or get rid of their old recycling bins. According to Weber, residents can keep them for indoor storage and to make it easier for them to carry their recycling to the carts.
Residents living on A-week streets should stop using their old bins after recycling is picked up next week and begin using their new carts the week of May 18. Residents living on B-week streets should stop using their bins after recycling is picked up the week of May 11 and begin using their new carts the week of May 25.
When the new system begins, carts should be placed at the end of driveways for recycling pickup, with the wheels facing the driveway and the opening of the lid facing the street. For the automated truck equipment to be able to hook onto the cart and lift it, the cart needs to have at least 3 feet of clearance from parked vehicles or mailboxes.
Weber noted that carts should not be overfilled and they need to be able to have the lid close naturally, without needing to be tied closed, to be picked up.
For more information, visit greenfield-ma.gov. Residents who do not receive their new carts by May 15 should contact the DPW at 413-772-1528.
