Arvada's New Waste And Recycling Program: Update

ARVADA, CO — The city of Arvada is set to begin the distribution of new recycling carts to residents Monday in preparation for the official launch of the city's new waste and recycling service in early July.

The 95-gallon carts, which are equipped with wheels and lids, will arrive at residents’ homes throughout June, and the new service is scheduled to start the week of July 5, the city said.

Many Arvadans have been critical of the program, and say the city did not get a good deal for residents; however, the city maintains that Republic Services went through a competitive proposal process and the new system will reduce waste hauling costs for most residents.

The city received a grant from The Recycling Partnership, a nonprofit organization that works with city governments nationwide to transform their recycling programs. The funding "will help support more than 18,000 new recycling carts and includes funding for related education and outreach materials, as well as technical assistance for education efforts," the city said in a news release.

“The City’s program provides low-cost curbside recycling to residents," Dot Miller, Arvada's mayor pro tem, in a statement. "I am excited that we have this opportunity to increase our community’s recycling rate."

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Arvadans are asked to place only recyclable materials in their carts:

• Glass bottles and jars
• Aluminum and steel cans
• Food and beverage cartons
• Paper products (including newspapers and flattened cardboard)
• 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, the city said.

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," the city's news release read. "While well-intentioned, non-recyclable items cause serious issues.

>> More information about Arvada's new waste and recycling program can be found here.