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Article published Dec 4, 2008 Alcoa residential recycling surges 39 percent in October
By Iva Butler of The Daily Times Staf
Recycling increased 39 percent in October when the city of Alcoa expanded its residential curbside recycling program.
For the period of July, August and September the city picked up an average of 23 tons of recyclables per month, said Alcoa Director of Public Works Kenny Wiggins.
In the first month of the expanded recycling program, city recycler Waste Connections of East Tennessee of Knoxville picked up 32.09 tons, he said.
"By observation, quite a few homeowners were putting out more than one bin containing recyclables and some had three or more bins," Wiggins said.
The public can place the recyclables in extra 14-gallon bins sold by the city for $10 each or in containers from other area stores.
Wiggins, who lives on Link Drive in Alcoa, said Tuesday his family had three containers full of recyclables and he is going to have to round up a fourth container for additional materials that can be recycled. He expects the program to grow.
Waste Connections now accepts a wider range of materials because of its switch to "single-stream" recycling. Recycled materials are mixed together in new collection trucks and shipped to Knoxville for sorting at Advanced Polymer Recycling Inc.
Acceptable recyclables include all plastic bottles and food containers labeled No. 1 to 7, steel cans, aluminum cans, clear, green and brown glass bottles, magazines, newspapers, junk mail, office paper, file folders, corrugated cardboard, boxboard (cardboard boxes that contain such things as cereal), plastic bags and phone books.
Not acceptable items include Styrofoam, ceramics and tempered or window glass.
Previously the only items picked up for recycling by Alcoa curbside were all colors glass, No. 1 and 2 plastics, aluminum, steel and tin cans, newspapers and inserts.
Recyclable materials are picked up on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Regular residential garbage pickup, done by Alcoa sanitation crews in different areas of the city Tuesday through Friday, is still transported to Blount County Public Landfill for disposal.
Alcoa still operates one convenience recycling center for the general public, including residents of Blount County and Maryville. The center is located behind the old fire hall at the intersection of Springbrook Road and Edison Street. Recyclables that can be left there include aluminum cans, newspapers, clear, green and brown glass, No. 1 and 2 plastics, corrugated cardboard and office paper.