Click here to subscribe today or Login.
WILKES-BARRE — The city’s Department of Public Works will distribute new 32-gallon residential recycling bins this week.
The city was awarded a $350,000 state Department of Environmental Protection recycling grant and purchased approximately 16,000 bins at a cost of $207,825. The remainder of the grant’s funds will be put toward the purchase of a leaf vacuum machine or an equivalent piece of equipment, the city said.
Each residential address will receive a bin and an informational sheet explaining the state and city requirements for single-stream and yard waste recycling programs.
The city is required to have a recycling program, according to state law. The city also is required to recycle four items — aluminum, steel and bimetallic cans, newsprint and leaf waste. Wilkes-Barre’s single-stream recycling program includes additional items such as:
• Cereal boxes.
• Egg cartons (non-Styrofoam).
• Phone books and catalogs.
• School papers.
• Cardboard.
• Pots and pans.
The informational sheet delivered with the bin has the complete list of items and the rules for recycling:
• Recycling will not be collected from plastic bags — clear, white, black, store bags, etc.
• Recyclables must be clean and contain no food, liquid, mold or mildew, otherwise they will be taken to the landfill.
• Recyclables must be visible to DPW crews.
• Do not overload recycling bins.
• Compact cardboard and dispose of cardboard and paper in the recycling bins as best as possible, especially when there is rain or snow.
• Yard waste, such as leaves, grass clippings, sod, shrubbery and tree trimmings and garden waste, must be placed in a separate container.
Residents are asked to check the city calendar or website, www.wilkes-barre.city for pickup schedules.
For residents’ convenience and to promote more recycling, the city has drop-off containers at the DPW garage, 3 Conyngham Ave. for cardboard, newspapers, single-stream items and leaf waste. The drop- off hours are from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Otherwise, the hours are from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Weekend hours, when available, will be published in the newspaper.