FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2018
Contact: Heather Ellzey
Environmental Educator
Recycling & Trash Collection Division
479.718.7687
hellzey@fayetteville-ar.gov
Recycling and Trash Collection 2019 Winter Holiday Schedule and More
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— City offices are closed Tuesday, December 24; Wednesday, December 25; and Wednesday, January 1. Recycling, trash, and yard waste collection routes will be delayed by one day during the weeks of December 23 and 30. Check out this flyer for the holiday recycling and route collection calendar and learn how to reduce your bill in 2020.
Recycling and Extra Holiday Trash: Managing extra holiday trash without being charged can be a challenge since the City operates a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) trash program. Recycling as much as possible is how to keep costs and trash volumes low. Check this webpage to learn what is recyclable in Fayetteville. Each year, customers with curbside service receive four extra bag pick-ups to use throughout the year. After the free pick-ups are used, households will be charged $6.72 for each additional bag pick-up. Carts with an open lid, due to extra trash sticking out, counts as an extra bag and you will be charged for each occurrence. Two recycling bins are available for each curbside customer at no charge. Please contact the Recycling and Trash Collection office if you’d like to downsize your cart, replace a bin or purchase an additional one for a fee at 479-575-8398.
The City is unable to recycle decorated gift wrap, ribbons, plastic bags, aluminum foil, or baking tins. Please place those items in the trash so they do not contaminate the recycling.
Wrapping Paper: The City’s recycling markets will not accept wrapping paper because of poor paper quality and paper contaminated with tape, glitter, etc. Please only recycle clean and high-quality paper – free from any type of contamination.
Cardboard: Boxes must be broken down and placed under your curbside recycling bin Drivers are not able to collect boxes that have not been broken down due to truck and schedule limitations. Pizza boxes are accepted without crust and if the box isn’t too greasy.
Light Strand Recycling: The City of Fayetteville will accept light strands for recycling at the Marion Orton Recycling Center (735 W. North St.) during normal operating hours through Friday, January 8.
Electronics Recycling: The Boston Mountain Solid Waste District will be recycling electronics for no charge from December 26 through January 4, 2019. Acceptable electronics include: computers; printers; copiers; phones; stereos; televisions; fax machines; cables; shredders; microwaves; DVD & VCR players; video game consoles; satellite receivers, and handheld devices. The District will also except Christmas lights that no longer work and are free of decorations. The two drop-off locations are:
- Boston Mountain Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 2721 S. Brink Drive, Fayetteville – open Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed for lunch 12:30–1:30 p.m. each day. Open on the first Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. until noon.
- Boston Mountain Solid Waste District located at 11398 Bond Road, Prairie Grove – open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. until noon.
Aluminum: The City’s recycling markets will not accept aluminum foil and baking tins (pie, roasts, etc.) because they are made of a very thin gauge of aluminum foil that burns into a gas instead of melting. Recycling truck drivers will leave these items in your bin; please put them in your trash cart.
Christmas Tree Composting: Christmas trees will be picked up on the same day as your recycling and trash collection through January 2020 Please allow ample space around the trash cart and recycling bin for ease of collection. No artificial trees will be collected for composting. Residents can also bring trees to the City’s composting facility (1708 S. Armstrong Avenue) free of charge during normal operating hours. Hours of operation are Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the first Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. All trees must be free from all plastic bags, stands, decorations, lights, and tinsel before they will be collected/dropped off.
Recycling is a great place to start, but what if we could produce less waste altogether? Here are a few favorite low- and zero-waste holiday tips and tricks…
- Save money and create less waste by using rechargeable batteries for your new gifts. Please dispose of batteries properly. Questions regarding battery disposal? Call: Household Hazardous Waste 479-845-3005
- Be creative with “no wrap” options. Hide that large, unwieldy gift somewhere in the house or yard. Give the recipient a card with a series of clues leading to the present.
- Wrap gifts in materials that can be reused, such as baskets, tins, scarves and handkerchiefs. Gift bags are an attractive, reusable alternative to wrapping paper.
- Newspaper comics, magazines, old posters, maps, and blueprints make unique gift wrap – and they’re recyclable!
- If you purchase gift wrap, look for paper with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content.
- Unwrap gifts carefully. Dedicate a collection area for gift wrap, trim, and boxes to be reused next year.
- Instead of Styrofoam packing peanuts and bubble wrap – cushion gifts with recyclable newspaper or plastic grocery bags, unbuttered popcorn, or corn-based packing peanuts that disintegrate in water.
- Save and reuse packing peanuts that you receive or donate them to a local mailing and shipping store. It’s always good to call and check with the store first.
- Avoid single use disposables! Serve your holiday guests with reusable plates, cups, and utensils. Less waste goes to landfills and real dishes add a special touch to holiday get-togethers.
Annual holiday schedules can be viewed at www.fayetteville-ar.gov/holidayschedule. For more information, please contact the Recycling and Trash Collection Office at 479-575-8398 or visit www.fayetteville-ar.gov/recycle.
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