Free curbside recycling service began Tuesday in Española, North Central Solid Waste Authority Manager Joseph Lewandowski said.
“We bought 200 recycling carts and the New Mexico Recycling Coalition donated 188 more containers to us,” Lewandowski said. “We’re starting to distribute them (Tuesday) and to establish pick-up routes. We were going to limit recycling to certain subdivisions but there’s enough interest that we’re going to do the entire (city).”
Customers must request a bin in order to receive the service.
Recycling pick-up for customers east of the Rio Grande will be on Wednesdays and pick-up on the west-side will be on Thursdays, Lewandowski said.
Paper, newspaper, tin, aluminum and plastic bottles marked number one or number two can be placed in the bins, Lewandowski said.
“Cardboard should be bundled and stacked neatly under the bin so it doesn’t blow away,” Lewandowski said.
No glass or aerosol cans should be placed in the bins and plastic caps from plastic bottles cannot be recycled, Lewandowski said.
“(Glass is) a safety issue for our guys,” Lewandwoski said. “But glass can still be recycled at any convenience or transfer station.”
Customers from outside Española’s city limits will still have to bring recycling to a transfer or convenience station, Lewandowski said.
“As we get more containers, we’ll expand out into adjacent areas near Española” Lewandowski said.
To request a bin or to ask for locations of convenience and transfer stations, call 747-8459.