Recycling change prompts greater participation

By By Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle’s first week in the recycling business has worked out even better than planned.
Mayor Dwight Tankersley said more people seem to be using the city’s new lidded recycling bins.
Tankersley said the recycling pickup went well and improvements are being made to the process at the bailer. The bailer is located at the city’s transfer station. The city uses it to process the recyclables that are then picked up by the Traylor Group. The city receives a portion of the money generated by the recycling.
The city began making plans to take over its recycling from Allied Waste after the company announced plans to increase its rates late last year. The city opted to pick up its own recycling and then contracted with the Trayor Group to pick up the bailed items.
Hartselle residents pay $2.10 per month for curbside recycling.
The city moved to a bi-weekly pickup schedule when it took over services from Allied, that provided weekly pickup.
However, the city uses larger 64-gallon lidded containers with wheels, similar to the ones being used for garbage service.
The recycling bins are picked up by the city’s automated garbage trucks.
Tankersley said the city notifies Traylor when its large bin is full and the Rainsville company will pick it up. A pickup will probably occur weekly, he said, “if the (recycling) levels stay high.”
Tankersley said he was at the transfer station when the trucks brought their first load and was pleased with people’s participation.