December 21, 2016
 
Contact: Brian Pugh
Waste Reduction Coordinator
Recycling & Trash Collection Division
479.718.7685
bpugh@fayetteville-ar.gov
 
 

Helpful Tips and Winter Holiday Schedule for Recycling and Trash Collection

 
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— The City of Fayetteville’s residential recycling, trash, and yard waste collection routes will be delayed by one day during the weeks of December 25 and January 1. City offices and the Marion Orton Recycling Drop Off Center will be closed Friday, December 23 through Monday, December 26. Commercial routes will run on Friday, December 23 and the Transfer Station will be open from 7 a.m. to noon. The Happy Hollow Recycling Drop Off Center (1420 S. Happy Hollow Road) is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Check out this calendar for holiday recycling and route collection information.
 
Costs of Residential Trash Carts and Recycling Bins - 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, single-family households receive four extra bag pick-ups to use throughout the year. After the free pick-ups are used, households will be charged $6.20 for each additional bag pick-up. Garbage that measures six inches above the cart rim is counted as an extra bag and residents will be charged $6.20 for each occurrence. Single-family household customers receive two free recycling bins; extra bins are available for a fee. Recycling more and downsizing your cart can help you save as much as $131 a year:
 
Downsize Your Trash Cart      Yearly Savings      Less Gallons Sent to Landfill
Large to Small                                $131.28                   768
Large to Medium                            $72.12                     384
Medium to Small                             $59.16                     384
To get more bins or change your cart size, please call the Recycling and Trash Collection office at 479-575-8398.
 
Christmas Tree Recycling - Christmas trees are recycled with the City composting program.  Christmas trees will be picked up on the same day as your recycling and trash collection through January 2017. Please allow ample space around the trash cart and recycling bin for ease of collection. All trees must be free from all plastic bags, stands, decorations, lights, and tinsel before they will be collected. 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.
 
Waste Reduction Tips - The City’s recycling markets will not accept wrapping paper contaminated with tape, glitter, etc. Please only recycle clean paper – free from any type of contamination. Here are some helpful recycling and wrapping tips:

• 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.
• 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 newsprint 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 is always good to call and check with the store first.
• Avoid the holiday mail bottleneck by sending an electronic greeting card via the internet.  There is a wide selection of colorful, animated cards to fit all occasions. Cut up and use last year’s holiday cards as this year’s gift tags.
• Gifts such as movie passes or donations to organizations on behalf of someone are especially meaningful.
• Avoid disposables. Serve your holiday guests with reusable plates, cups, and utensils.  Less waste goes to landfills and real dishes lend an elegant touch to your party.
• Artificial trees can be used year after year.
• Always try to use rechargeable batteries for all your new gifts. This reduces disposal problems with regular batteries.
• Please take plastic bags back to retail stores that offer recycle of bags at their store entrance.

For more information, please contact the Recycling and Trash Collection Office at 479-575-8398 or visit our webpage.

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