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Decatur continues to strengthen recycling program

DECATUR – The city of Decatur will begin rolling out new recycling carts for residents in January and next May as part of an opt-in campaign to strengthen its existing recycling program. 

Residents will be receiving an opt-in mailer this month and next February allowing households that don’t currently recycle or those that currently recycle in a smaller, 64-gallon to opt-in to receive a larger, 96-gallon cart. The carts will provide increased capacity for recyclables and come with wheels for easy maneuvering and attached lids to keep recyclables dry and secure. 

“Recycling is important to the City of Decatur,” said Mayor Tab Bowling. “We understand the need for a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations. Through improvements in our recycling program, which includes continuous community education and outreach, providing larger recycling carts to our residents, and expanding our Materials Recovery Facility to allow more tons of recyclables to processed for reuse, we have one of the most robust recycling programs in North Alabama.”

The city received a grant from The Recycling Partnership, an organization committed to building a better recycling system in U.S. communities and states. Decatur was selected because of its dedication to advancing recycling in the community.  

Recycling carts will be distributed to households in two batches – the first in January and the second in May. Residents will receive a “Carts are Coming” post card in the mail about two to four weeks before the cart arrives. If a postcard is not received this year, residents can expect their recycling cart to be delivered in May.  

Residents should place only recyclable materials in their carts, including aluminum and steel cans, paper products (including newspapers and flattened cardboard), and empty plastic bottles and containers. To help limit contamination, give food and drink containers a quick rinse and then place them directly into the recycling cart — no sorting is needed.

Some items that cannot be recycled include plastic bags, paper towels, pizza boxes, electrical equipment, batteries, and clothing.  These items often get mixed into recycling carts because of “wishcycling,” or the hope that they can be recycled.  While well-intentioned, non-recyclable items cause serious issues.

For more information about the recycling program, call 256-341-4770 or visit www.cityofdecatural.com/departments/recycling-department. 

Residents can begin using their new carts immediately on their regularly scheduled recycling day.

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