EAST LANSING, Mich. – The City of East Lansing has received a $125,000 grant from The Recycling Partnership - a national nonprofit committed to improving curbside recycling in the U.S. - to assist in rolling out a new, more efficient curbside recycling cart system to East Lansing residents later this year.
As a result of the grant and matching funds from the City, new recycling carts will be rolled out to residents at no cost. A portion of the grant funding will also be used to provide outreach and education to East Lansing residents about the new cart system.
“The Recycling Partnership is thrilled to announce that our first city for the 2015 grant cycle is East Lansing, Michigan. They are an outstanding partner, who is not only expanding the volume of their collection container by moving to 96-gallon carts, but also will be adding new material types to their curbside mix. We look forward to working with this dedicated and enthusiastic city partner to implement lasting improvements to their residential recycling program,” said Recycling Partnership Executive Director Keefe Harrison.
“The Recycling Partnership grant will be instrumental in successfully rolling out this exciting new cart system to our residents,” said East Lansing Environmental Services Administrator Cathy DeShambo. “The cart system comes with many benefits, including added convenience for residents, increased recycling volumes, less landfill material, more efficient collection times, cost savings and increased safety for City employees.”
The City of East Lansing’s new curbside recycling carts will be rolled out to residents in late August or early September. The 96-gallon carts are easy to use and will allow East Lansing residents to recycle more than ever before. Additionally, the new cart system will allow the City to add new items to its existing single-stream curbside recycling program, including boxboard, cardboard and the possibility of other materials, which will be announced later this summer.
It’s important for residents to note that curbside recycling collection will go from a weekly schedule to a bi-weekly schedule (once every two weeks) as part of the cart system rollout. A schedule will be provided to residents.
As a part of the rollout of the new cart system, the City will also be receiving a new, automated hydraulic hybrid recycling truck in mid-August. East Lansing will be the first city in Michigan to have a hydraulic hybrid recycling truck out on the road. The truck is a product of East Lansing’s Green Fleet Policy.
Residents with questions about the new cart system are encouraged to contact the East Lansing Department of Public Works at (517) 337-9459.