Fayetterville may soon come a step closer to implementing a new recycling collection program. The City Council will consider buying about 27,800 all-in-one recycling carts to distribute to residents this summer. The total cost of the purchase is more than $1.3 million. However, a grant from the national Recycling Partnership would cover about $1.2 million of the cost. The remaining portion 鈥� $125,280, plus 9.75% sales tax and a 10% contingency of $133,327 to cover any cost over-runs 鈥� would come from the city鈥檚 recycling and trash collection fund.
The item will be on the council鈥檚 consent agenda, meaning it will pass without discussion unless a council member objects. The move is part of a plan to replace the 18-gallon recycling bins citywide with new carts that come 35, 65 or 95 gallons in size. For reference, the trash carts used at most residences are 65 gallons.
The switch means the city is converting to an all-in-one recycling collection system, commonly known as 鈥渟ingle stream.鈥� All recyclables can be placed into one cart, and a truck with an automated arm will pick up the materials. The trucks will be rigged with cameras and software to identify any contaminants before the materials are sent to a facility for sorting. At the facility, employees will sort materials accordingly before they are sent to the same end-use markets the city uses now.