For many Jefferson City residents, curbside recycling became the norm when the city moved to a mandatory trash service provided by Allied Waste in 2009.
But as the city looks at new options while rebidding the service, how has the existing program worked?
The curbside recycling service, known as single-stream recycling, is meant to encourage residents to recycle by making it a simple, in-home task. But many may not realize the curbside service doesn't take all recyclable material, for instance glass is not accepted in the single-stream service, nor are plastic bags, and any item with food residue is generally not accepted.
When those types of products are included in the curbside recycling bin, they have to be sorted out at the Federal International Recycling facility on West Main Street.
Aaron Doss, general manager of Federal International Recycling, said the Jefferson City facility receives 100 percent of what's collected in the curbside service, which equates to about 300 tons per month. On average, less than 10 percent of those collections go to a landfill, while the rest is recycled into new, usable materials.
After the holidays, Doss said, those numbers look even better. After major holidays, such as Christmas, Doss said less than 6 percent of what's collected goes to a landfill, as more people are recycling cardboard boxes and wrapping paper used for gifts.
To help residents keep track of how the curbside service works, the News Tribune met with city and recycling officials to provide a break down of what recyclables are accepted where.
Curbside recycling
For Jefferson City residents, single-stream recycling is part of the mandatory trash service provided by Allied Waste. (Residents in apartment complexes may not have the curbside service.) But not everything you may think is recyclable can go in that gray-topped bin.
Here's a breakdown of what can, and can't, be recycled curbside:
Does it go in the bin?
YES
- Clean aluminum cans, trays and foil
- Mixed paper fiber: magazines, catalogs, telephone books, paper, pictures
- Spray paint, hairspray, air freshener, deodorant spray, empty steel cans, tins and aerosol
- Cardboard and chipboard boxes (broken-down first)
- Clear and green plastic bottles (soda, water, etc.)
- Milk and juice jugs, dishwasher and laundry detergent, bleach bottles
- Medication bottles, household cleaners and air fresheners
- Grocery containers (butter, cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream, coffee cans, etc.)
- Plastic buckets, kitty litter containers (maximum of five gallon sizes)
NO
- Styrofoam
- Plastic silverware and cups
- Foam plates and cups
- Plastic cards, bags
- Ribbons, bows
- Unused stamps
- Insecticide, herbicide, motor oil and hazardous chemicals
- Glass
Commercial vs. Residential
Residential trash service includes the curbside recycling service at no cost, but that does not mean every resident has that service.
For those who live in apartment complexes, you may not have curbside service available, as complexes are considered a commercial property. Commercial properties are not required to have recycling, which is offered at a cost to those property owners.
If you do not have curbside service, you can bring your recyclables to available centers within the city.
Where to bring what?
Whether or not you have the curbside service, you may need to bring some recyclables to separate locations. But where do you bring what?
MATERIAL: LOCATION
General recyclables: New World Recycling: 2007 Idlewood Road, 573-635-0331, newworldmissouri.com
Household hazardous waste: 2310 Hyde Park Road, 573-634-6410 (By appointment only)
Glass (food, beverage containers): Look for the large purple bins at Save-a-Lot, 1228 E. McCarty St.; Hyde Park, 2284 Hyde Park Road; front lot of Federal Recycling, 2730 W. Main St.; and McKay Park, 1700 Southridge Drive
Electronics and appliances (anything with a cord,battery): Midwest Recycling Center, 1327 Highway 179, 573-635-4122, midwrc.net
Yard waste: Compost site, 2417 Southridge Drive, 573-893-4257
Newspaper, magazine and cardboard: McKay Park, 1700 Southridge Drive; Memorial Park, 111 Memorial Park Drive; Fire Station No. 1, 621 W. High St.; Fire Station No. 2, 2400 E. McCarty St.; Fire Station No. 5, 1005 Fairgrounds Road; City Hall east parking lot, 320 E. McCarty St.