All Town of Garner single family residents will be receiving a new, brown 65-gallon recycling cart during the last two weeks of September.

Garner’s Town Council approved the purchase of the larger rollout carts to enhance service and improve the recycling program. The larger carts will provide over three times more recycling capacity.

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources have banned plastic bottles from the state’s landfills beginning Oct. 1, making it unlawful to dispose of any plastic bottles, motor oil filters and pallets in the state’s landfills.

Neighboring communities that use larger rollout carts for recycling have seen a dramatic increase in their recycling program participation and tonnage collected. The new larger carts will encourage more household recycling which helps preserve landfill space.

Since the new rollout carts have lids, recyclables should stay dry and contained on rainy and windy days, which has been a problem with the green bins that are currently being used for recyclable collection. Residents will find the new carts easier to handle, since it has wheels and can be rolled to the curb.

As new carts are being delivered during Sept. 17 through Sept. 30, the Town ask all residents to assist them with the transition from the old, green recycling bins to the new rollout carts by placing the old bin(s) at the curb on their usual recycling day.

After your bin is emptied, it will then be removed and a new cart delivered that same day. More detailed recycling information will be attached to the new rollout cart, which will provide information on your cart and what items can be recycled and placed inside for collection.

Beginning Oct. 1, residents should begin using the new rollout cart for their recyclables and it should be placed at the curb on their regularly scheduled recycling day. The larger recycling cart, and the additional items that may be recycled, are the only changes that have been made to the Town’s recycling program. Residents will see no change in their bi-weekly recycling collection day and route color.

Solid waste services will remain the same with weekly garbage and yard waste collected for their route as usual.

The new rollout carts will allow residents to commingle their recyclables. It is not necessary to separate recyclable materials, as separation is done at the processing location. Recyclables should not be bagged and can be placed loosely in the container.

Residents are encouraged to break down cardboard boxes and to rinse food residue from all recyclables to help control odors and insects.

For collection, recycling carts may be placed at the curb (not in the street) after 7 p.m. the day before your collection date and removed from the street after pickup. Town Ordinances do not allow carts to be left at the street on non-collection days.

If you have questions or would like more information, please call the Town of Garner Public Works Department at 772-7600.