Eustis to Implement Alternative Residential Solid Waste and Single Stream Recycling Collection on June 4, 2012

Eustis, FL – In January, the Eustis City Commission agreed to move forward with an alternative level of residential solid waste and recycling collection service that will save citizens approximately $2.00 per month and increase opportunities for recycling. In addition, Waste Management, the City’s franchise hauler, will provide both garbage and recycling roll-out containers to each household. Residents will no longer have to purchase garbage cans for the solid waste pick-up, but can continue to use their containers for yard trash.  The system is designed to go to once-a-week household garbage pickup and the “single stream” recycling collection, which will allow a larger number of items to be recycled. This service has been designed to reduce fuel consumption and the single stream recycling will allow for more of the waste stream to be recycled and reduce the amount of waste taken to the landfills.

The new service will begin on June 4, 2012 and all customers once-a-week pickup day for household garbage, recycling and yard trash will be on the same day as you currently receive recycling and yard trash pickup service.

Waste Management will begin delivering the roll-out containers about two weeks before the new service begins; however, once the new containers are received, customers may begin using the new containers. Until June 4^th, customers will continue receiving twice-a-week pickup of household garbage on the same schedule as currently provided.

Effective June 4^th and scheduled recycling service thereafter, customers must use the containers provided and persons wishing to discard their old recycling bins should place the empty bin at the curb on their regular pickup day and Waste Management will pick them up and recycle them for use elsewhere.

Waste Management has advised the City that the trucks that pickup household garbage and single-stream recycling look very much alike and that the recyclable materials are indeed being recycled and will not be discarded as household garbage.

During the months of April and May, the City and Waste Management will be providing more information to residential customers regarding the particulars of the new service and within the near future a map of the various service schedules throughout the City of Eustis will be available on the City’s website www.eustis.org .  Look for additional information in the upcoming monthly water bill and additional information will be provided when Waste Management delivers customers their new roll-out containers.

In addition to the $2.00 per month savings to residential customers, Eustis also will qualify for a recycling rewards program that would allow for participants to go online and get money saving coupons from national and hopefully local partners.

Waste Management has committed to use compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles in Eustis as soon as the vehicles and fueling facilities are established locally. Waste Management has also committed to recycle all recyclable goods received, regardless of the recycling markets.

The City of Eustis wishes to thank its customers in advance for their patience during this change in service and wants to let the residents of Eustis know that the City and Waste Management will make effort to make this transition as seamless as possible.

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Media contact information:

Richard Hoon

Assistant to the City Manager / Community Relations

Phone:  (352) 483-5430  • Email:   hoonr@ci.eustis.fl.us