Dustin Nolan, the city of Waukesha recycling and solid waste coordinator, expects his email in-box to start filling up in the next couple of weeks.
That's because the city has started reaching out to residents in preparing them for the garbage, recycling pickup system that awaits them in a few months. And Nolan anticipates many questions.
Beginning at the end of January, the city is switching to an automated recycling and garbage system in which most, though not all, residents will have one standard-sized cart for recycling and one for garbage, eliminating the use of its old containers.
The carts will be picked up by a device attached to a vehicle that will flip the carts over into the garbage/recycling truck and return it to the same spot on the ground.
While this system includes many changes, the pickup schedule will not change.
While Nolan said the city and Advanced Disposal are still working out its contract, the city's Department of Public Works is sending out postcards to all eligible households this week informing them about the size of the new wheeled carts and giving residents the opportunity to choose an alternative size.
Choosing best size
If people don't request an alternative cart size, residents will receive a 64-gallon garbage cart (comparable to two, 30-gallon trash cans or two blue recyclable bins with a height of 41.5 inches, a depth of 27 inches and width of 24 inches) and a 96-gallon recycling cart (comparable to three, 30-gallon trash cans or three blue bins with a height of 46 inches, a depth of 34.5 inches and a width of 26 inches).
But those who want a different size cart, for either garbage or recycling, must fill out the form they receive in the mail and drop off the card at City Hall, 201 Delafield St.; the Waukesha Public Library, 321 Wisconsin Ave.; or the Department of Public Works Annex Building, 130 Delafield St. It can also be mailed to the DPW Annex Building.
Residents can also choose an alternative size cart using the city's website at www.ci.waukesha.wi.us and complete the online form. Alternative cart selections must be received no later than Friday, Oct. 17. After that date, the city will begin ordering the appropriate containers, Nolan said.
All requests should be mailed no later than Oct. 15 to ensure that they are received on time.
For both garbage and recycling, there is a 48-gallon option available. A resident can also choose a 96-gallon garbage cart.
Nolan said that when considering selecting an alternative size, residents should keep in mind extra bags that do not fit within the cart will not be taken if they are set on the ground next to the cart.
But he added that large items, like old furniture, which do not fit within the cart, will still be picked up. While it is not required, residents are advised to put garbage in plastic bags before putting the garbage into the carts.
"The city does encourage residents to choose the smallest size garbage cart which will suit their needs, which will save city tax dollars," Nolan said. "The more garbage the city collects and landfills, the more expensive the program will be. Alternatively, the city will continue to receive revenue for recyclables. As a community, we want to have a goal to create less garbage."
Starting in 2015
The city is beginning a new contract for recycling and garbage services and is transitioning from the current manual collection to automated collection, an overall change that is part of a new county recycling program that will see 25 municipalities participate in the program.
By being part of the program, the municipalities will be compensated for the cost of the new recycling containers and for a system of covering the cost of hauling to a joint facility in the Menomonee Valley in Milwaukee.
Nolan said residents can start using the carts once they receive them in late January.
Most city households will use this system, but there are notable exceptions: Those with alley pickup as well as residents in the downtown area who use curbside pickup will continue to use the usual trash cans and blue recycling bins.
Regardless, garbage pickup will remain every week and recycling every other week.
Nolan said if residents want to see samples of the carts, they can view them at City Hall, the library or the DPW Annex Building. The city's website also has scaled photos of the carts.
If people have questions on the upcoming garbage/recycling changes, contact Nolan at dnolan@ci.waukesha.wi.us or (262) 524-3593.