Last week the City of Milton officially began their recycling program for citizens who opted to take part. As of this time, 134 residents signed the recycling option, said the Milton’s Public Works Director George Rials.
“I think the response we have received from those 134 has been positive,” he said.
In January, the council approved the public works department’s request to offer a recycling option to citizens who currently use the city’s waste management services. In the process, a purchase of nearly 1,000 trash containers was approved, Rials said.
In addition, Rials said the department received consent to spend additional funding in hiring temporary help in order to assist with the recycling pick up.
The city currently has around 400 recycle containers, which look similar to the regular city trash cans except with a yellow lid, ready for use.
Letters notifying customers of the recycling option were sent to more than 3,000 Milton customers, who utilize the city’s waste management services.
In addition, citizens can register for the recycling option on the city’s website or by calling the city at 983-5410.
The recycling pick up occurs on Wednesdays, Rials said. Since the recycling program started last week, no problems arose.
“So far, no problems,” Rials said. “As the routes begin to come together logistically, we may see some improvements.”
The recyclable products are relocated to a transfer station at the county landfill near Bagdad. The recyclable materials are sorted at the facility which is operated by the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority.
Rials said a need for city recycling service was requested by customers for some time. Previously, the county provided transfer stations. At these stations residents could drop off and sort out their recyclables.
However, Rials said, after time these transfer stations became ineffective.
“There were a couple of issues driving it, the contractor that handled the recyclables for the county went out of business,” Rials said. “There were also issues of the transfer stations becoming trash receptacles.”
Since then the ECUA set up the recycling facility at the county landfill and offered recycling services to customers in the county.
“The city (council) felt we should try to provide the same to city residents and we moved forward with it,” he said.
ONLINE: To register online for the Milton recycling service, visit http://bit.ly/1x8Dmck
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton: Recycling program is officially underway