By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
The city is rolling out new recycling carts for residents.
The free 65-gallon carts will begin arriving at residents’ homes in mid-June. Residents do not have to go to City Hall to pick up their new cart.
Mayor Dorinda Borer said residents should start using their new carts as soon as they receive them. The collection schedule will remain the same, she said.
The carts will replace the smaller bins currently used for residential recycling.
Borer said the new carts have wheels for easy maneuvering and attached lids to keep recyclables dry and secure. They will also keep city streets safer and cleaner as scattered debris will be limited, she said.
According to city officials, residents can keep their old bins for home use but will no longer be able to use them for the recycling program. The smaller bins cannot accommodate a potential new automated process.
Residents who want to discard their old smaller bins can do so by placing the old smaller bins on the curb on their regular trash day starting July 8.
“This is a great opportunity to modernize our waste hauling system,” Borer said. “In addition to increasing our recycling capacity, there are aesthetic and safety benefits. The carts have lids, meaning we will no longer have litter and debris blowing around our streets.”
In combination with American Rescue Plan Act funding, the city has received a grant from The Recycling Partnership, a national nongovernmental organization that advances the circular economy by building a better recycling system in communities nationwide.
Borer said West Haven was selected to receive grant support because of its dedication to advancing recycling in the community.
The mayor asks that residents continue to do their part by placing only recyclable materials in their carts, including glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, food and beverage cartons, paper products, such as newspapers and flattened cardboard, and empty plastic bottles and containers.
To help limit contamination, give food and drink containers a quick rinse and place them directly into the recycling cart. No sorting is needed.
Residents can find their recycling day and answers to other frequently asked questions by visiting https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/266/Recycling-Info-Carts or calling the Department of Public Works at (203) 937-3585.