Beginning January 1, 2015 Residents Can Place All Recyclables in the new blue can.
The days of separating recyclables are over! Beginning January 1, 2015, paper, cardboard, plastics, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and cartons all go in the same container.
Brookfield's waste hauler will deliver new, larger recycling containers to each home and all recyclables will go in those containers, mixed together. It’s called “single sort” recycling. No sorting. No hassle. These new recycling containers can hold two times more recyclables than the blue bin and more types of materials can be recycled in this new single sort program. With the convenience of not having to sort and more materials being accepted, this should lead to significant increases in recycling rates which is projected to be 25 percent or greater. The increase in recycling materials accepted also means less waste going to the landfill, which saves taxpayers money.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Why does the blue recycling can I received not have wheels? The one in the picture has wheels.
A: The ones with the wheels in the picture on the material provided with the can are the 96 gallon recycling carts used exclusively for curbside pickup. The City chose to maintain the up the drive service which requires using a 32 gallon can so it can be manually lifted by the worker to empty into the truck. The smaller cans do not have wheels and can not be retrofit to get them. Recycling pick up will still be performed weekly so it should not be as heavy as a full trash can since recyclables are generally lighter than trash. With the up the drive service, the recycling can does not have to be taken very far outside the garage either as opposed to the curbside collection which requires both garbage and recycling to be taken to the curb each week..
Q: I received a new blue recycling can but prefer to use the blue bin, can I do that?
A: Yes, you can use the blue recycling bin in addition to the can. The contractor will collect recyclables from either or both.
Q: Now that I received the blue recycling can, what do I do with my existing blue bin?
A: You can continue to use the blue bin for recycling too, along with the new can. Or if you do not want the blue bin anymore, please drop it off at the City's Recycling Center for reuse by others.
Q: Now that we have single stream recycling, does that mean we can put all our garbage and recycling together into one can?
A: No, garbage should still be put into your separate garbage cans. Only recyclable materials can be put into the recycling can. Please see list of materials that are recyclable at this link to the County's website.
Q: Garbage and Recycling Collection?
A: Pick-up will remain as a "up the drive" service in 2015.
Q: When will the new containers be delivered?
A: Contractor will deliver one recycling can to end of driveway in mid January with literature inside can regarding new recycling rules.
Q: Will we receive both refuse and recycling containers?
A: Container provided will be for recycling only. Property owners should use their own trash cans for refuse as they do now.
Q: What size will the recycling can be?
A: 32 gallons.
Q: Will this cost me more money?
A: No. This is funded through property taxes and costs are less than last year.
Q: I received a card from Advanced Disposal that said pickup will change from Friday to Thursday for my area. When does that start?
A: The actual change from Friday pickup to Thursday pickup will occur the week of January 5th.
Do's and Don'ts with regard to your new recycling container
Do:
Know that the City is leasing the recycling container provided to you from the contractor and it is not owned by the City or the resident.
Call Advanced Disposal Services (ADS) at 262-367-6040 for container concerns or if your container is defective.
Use the container for recycling as additional items are now recyclable that were not previously.
Don'ts:
Don't take recycling container with you if you move. The City is leasing the cans from the contractor for each address.
Don't use for ashes or abuse the container. Replacement containers will be an additional cost.
For more information visit waukeshacounty.gov/recycling or call 262-896-8300.