Community Corner

FAQs: New Recycling & Trash Bins

The Public Works Dept. urges residents to try the new bins for a few weeks before requesting a different size.

We caught up with Paul DiMauro, Shelton's director of , to clear up some of the confusion regarding the city's switch to automated trash pickup and single stream recycling.

Blue recycling carts have already been distributed, and single stream pickup beings today, September 4. For a list of what items can and cannot be recycled, .

Delivery of brown trash carts is expected to being September 10. Here are his answers to some of the more frequently asked questions. Also check out the attached .pdf file for further information:

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Q: What should I do with my old bins?

A: "We are asking condo associations to put them all together at one location. For other residents, there will be drop-off points to place them. They can certainly drop them at transfer station. Everything will be recycled. We will pick them up at centralized locations, we just ask people to stack them one inside the other at the assigned locations."

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Q: Will the frequency of pickup change?

A: "No. Frequency is the same as it was prior to the switchover to automated: once a week for refuse (trash), once every other week for recycling."

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Q: Can I purchase a second trash bin?

A: "You can purchase a second refuse bin but we caution not to do that because if you properly recycle you can reduce your waste by 40 to 50 percent. This new container holds three times what a normal can would. Try it for a while first."

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Q: Can I purchase a second recycling bin?

A: "If you’re aggressive with recycling, the city will provide a second recycling bin at no charge."

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Q: The new bins are much bigger than what I have now--what if I'm having trouble handling them?

A: "Can’t we help our neighbors? Friends and relatives can certainly lend a hand to those in need. We will re-evaluate the size for senior citizens or the disabled at a later date. Right now the city doesn’t own the bins. Once we distribute all of them and own the database and can track where each one is then we’ll consider putting in smaller ones. But we encourage everyone to try it first."

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Q: I live in a condo and can't fit the new bin in my garage. Where should I put it?

A: "I was at the Rivendell complex, which I believe has the smallest units in Shelton. I visited one of the residents and was able to put the container alongside the car on the right rear side. There is room. We never said they had to go into garages, either. They can make other arrangements; they can have common areas and enclose it, put it behind bushes, put a temporary fence up."

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Q: How should my cart be positioned to ensure it gets picked up?

A: Place the cart on the curb, not in the street, with the handle away from the street. Carts must be placed at least three feet away from each other and from any other objects to avoid damage and to facilitate collection.

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Q: Can I write my name on my new bins?

A: No. They belong to the city of Shelton and are not personal property. You can, however, write your address on the carts. 

 



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