The city will deliver a 64-gallon blue wheeled cart to your residence (at no charge) to replace your current recycling bin or barrel beginning on October 16th!

RECYCLING “ROLLS” AHEAD IN WALTHAM!

The City of Waltham is changing to an automated recycling collection program in 2017. The city will deliver a 64-gallon blue wheeled cart to your residence (at no charge) to replace your current recycling bin or barrel beginning on October 16th! The delivery process will take approximately three weeks. Please do not start using your cart until Monday, November 6th. The Cart will be delivered to your house; you do not have to be home. The City has the addresses of Waltham households. Residents can see sample new wheeled carts are on display at the Library, City Hall, and the Senior Center. Once the new recycling carts are distributed in your neighborhood, recycling bins will no longer be serviced by the city. You can use the small bin in your house to collect your recyclables in order to empty them into your cart. If you don’t want your bin, you can put it in your new recycling cart and it will be recycled. Recycling will be collected every week on your recycling and trash day. The recycling pick-up schedule will not change.

A 64-gallon recycling cart holds more recyclables and promotes a sustainable community. Carts easily roll to the curb and back. And all carts have attached lids, important for reducing litter on our streets. Automated cart recycling pick-up offers a cleaner, more efficient and effective collection process and is safer for the driver. Place your new recycling cart at the curb with the handles facing your home & ensure the cart is at least 3 feet away from surrounding items (mailbox, trash cans, utility poles, etc). Residents are also encouraged to only place their recycling cart at the curb for pickup when the cart is more than half full in order to improve efficiency of the recycling collection process.

WHAT CAN I RECYCLE IN MY CART?

All your recyclables can go into the cart; glass, cans, plastic, paper, collapsed boxes (Large quantities of cardboard can be dropped off in the dumpster in the Public Works Yard, 165 Lexington St). DO NOT put yard waste or trash into the cart.

The city will not be distributing carts for trash collection at this time however, the option may be considered in the future. Recyclable products will be imprinted on the lid of the cart. Please follow the 2017-2018 Waltham Guidelines Brochure: http://bit.ly/2017reyclingbrochure and ensure all recycling materials fit in the cart with the lid fully closed.

Attached below is the Recycling Carts Program brochure that was delivered to all residents in Waltham. Here are some other most frequently asked questions:

Q: When will the new wheeled carts be distributed?
A: The city will deliver a 64-gallon blue wheeled cart to your residence (at no charge) to replace your current recycling bin or barrel beginning on October 16th! The delivery process will take approximately three weeks. Please do not start using your cart until Monday, November 6th.

Q: Has there been a change to what materials can be recycled?
A: No, there is no change to the materials that can be recycled. Remember, the Waltham Recycling Department now accepts rigid plastics (see the brochure here). In addition, when the new carts are distributed, it will also be possible to recycle any old recycling bins in your cart. All cardboard boxes must go in the cart.

Q: If I live in an apartment complex with several family units, how many wheeled carts will be distributed to my building?
A: Two family units will receive two 64-gallon wheeled carts. Three family units will receive three 64-gallon wheeled carts. Four family units will receive two 96-gallon wheeled carts. Six family units will receive three 96-gallon wheeled carts. Eight family units will receive four 96-gallon wheeled carts.

Q: After the three month trial period, how can I swap my 64-gallon cart for a 96-gallon cart?
A: If you decide that you want a larger bin, you can call the Waltham Recycling Department to swap the 64-gallon cart for the 96-gallon cart. The Waltham Recycling Department can be reached at 781-314-3391.

Q: How will the wheeled carts be distributed to households?
A: The wheeled carts will be distributed to households; they do not need to be picked up and you do not need to be home to receive your new cart.

Q: Is the Waltham Recycling Department currently distributing recycling bins?
A: The Waltham Recycling Department does not currently have any bins to distribute during this transition period to wheeled carts. We suggest that if you are in need of a bin, either use an old barrel, or visit your local hardware store to purchase a barrel that can be used for trash or yard waste once the wheeled carts arrive. The Recycling Department office has RECYCLING ONLY stickers to place on the temporary barrels you purchase.

Q: Do I have to pay for my recycling wheeled cart?
A: The wheeled carts will be distributed by the city and are free for Waltham residents.

Q: What can I do with my old recycling bin?
A: We encourage you to repurpose your bin, perhaps to collect recycling within your house. However, if you do not wish to keep it, you can put it in your new wheeled cart and it will be recycled.

Q: Does the new collection program change the yard waste pick up schedule, since there will no longer be both blue and grey recycling bins?
A: The yard waste pick up schedule will remain the same. Yard waste is picked up every two weeks. Refer to the yard waste calendar and map to find out whether your yard waste will be picked up on a shaded (A-week, former blue recycling bin area) or an unshaded (B-week, former gray recycling bin area).

Q: Can a business request a new recycling cart?
A: Only businesses that currently have recycling pick-up by the City.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact the Waltham Recycling Department at 781-314-3391.