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New recycling bins are being distributed

41 comments

PTG 08/16/2015 at 8:46 PM

I noticed the north side of Fairmount got theirs, but not the south.

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JB 08/17/2015 at 12:04 AM

Is there anywhere I can go to find a distribution schedule? I’ve heard various neighbors say they got them, but I can’t see any pattern emerging based on their reports. I live near Union Market on a pretty recycling-friendly block and I’m beginning to feel like we’re getting passed over. Thanks in advance if you have any info!

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Eds 08/17/2015 at 4:38 AM

I would hate to think the recycling bins will be allowed to stay on the front. Not a pretty sight

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Tim H 08/17/2015 at 7:56 AM

We need to start a campaign to have our recycling picked up in the alleys instead of in the front. I don’t want to display my recycling bin in my tiny front yard, nor do I want to drag it through my house every two weeks to put it out front.

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John M 08/17/2015 at 8:02 AM

Pick-up will be wherever your trash pickup happens.

From the city site:

In July city-wide distribution will begin of some 57,000 new 95 gallon recycling carts. They’re being provided to residents as part of grant for a first-of-its-kind private/public recycling agreement with The Recycling Partnership, (formerly Curbside Value Partnership or CVP). Richmond is one of only four cities in the southeast to receive grant money.

In addition to increasing the amount residents can recycle, the program will enable the City to provide alley collection in neighborhoods where trash is picked up in alleys. Until now, all recycling collections have been curbside.

In January 2015, the City implemented the initial phase of the new recycling program with delivery of 95-gallon recycling carts to 6,000 homes in select neighborhoods with alley collection. All eligible households (single family dwelling or multi-family housing with fewer than four units) are scheduled to have carts by the end of the year.

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Clay Street Resident 08/17/2015 at 8:03 AM

Here’s some information about the new recycling cans. It appears that if you currently have alley trash pickup, your recycling will also be picked up in the alley.

http://www.richmondgov.com/RichmondRecycles/

I hope there’s an ordinance about keeping trash and recycling cans out of sight (side or back of house, in the backyard) when not being picked up on trash days. Some folks on my street leave their trash cans 24-7 on Clay Street, which makes the entire block look junky.

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John M 08/17/2015 at 8:05 AM

@clay street – There is indeed an ordinance for that /2013/02/06/city-to-enforce-ordinances-concerning-trashcans_26234/

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K 08/17/2015 at 8:26 AM

Interestingly (Richmond being Richmond), nowhere are we told whether or not we can recycle our old tubs in the new bins!

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Lt 08/17/2015 at 9:35 AM

Anyone know a direct number I can call to get one. It would appear that I was skipped, as the rest of my block both sides have received theirs.

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dontmincewords 08/17/2015 at 9:41 AM

I may be the only resident that hopes my block does not get these cans. 300 block of 21st does not have an alley, so all cans are in the front. Most houses do not have room for a second super-can and we can barely hide our two recycle buckets. I feel like I’m living in Brooklyn again with trash by the front door.

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Tess Shebaylo 08/17/2015 at 10:02 AM

@K, our block was told that yes, you can put your old bin into the new bin to recycle it. 🙂

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Mary 08/17/2015 at 10:26 AM

@dontmincewords

You’re not the only one don’t worry. Same problem on our block, the trash cans sit on the sidewalk, 4 in a row…we’ll now have 8 cans sitting in a row? It’s going to be insane. We also haven’t gotten ours, which makes me wonder if maybe they’re trying to figure out what to do with us

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Rick Tatnall 08/17/2015 at 10:37 AM

To all those with extra 24 gallon recycling bins that they want to get rid of – PLEASE do not put them into the new recycling supercans – they will be destroyed in the collection process. I am working on a process to re-use these bins for recycling in Richmond Public Schools. Please hang onto your unwanted bins and you will be hearing about a collection process soon through CHPN for use in school recycling programs. Thank you.

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Jean M. Wight 08/17/2015 at 1:08 PM

Thrilled! We compost and recycle at home here on the 2300 block of E. Grace, but it has been really tough for us physically (we are senior citizens) to carry the smaller containers down along the side of our house and then a staircase down to the front street. This might not be a “one-size fits all” for everyone, but we are very grateful that we can now re-cycle without back surgery!

Would be even better if the Fresh Market on Main would still recycle plastic bags, because the re-cycling service still does not take them…or if the RTD and Fresh Market only used compostable bags….well, “baby steps” I suppose?

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Eric S. Huffstutler 08/17/2015 at 10:51 PM

@13 I am with you. It looks horrible on the streets now lined with these cans with bright blue lids. Perfect timing to impress tourists coming for the races. Front yards filled with trash cans. One house across from me, rather than rolling them down the side of their house now has 3 cans lined side-by-side the width of his yard in front of his porch. A lovely sight – NOT. I know the city is trying to help but to the demise of making our historic neighborhoods look tacky?

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laura 08/18/2015 at 5:27 AM

Agreed Eric. These cans in the the front of houses look super trashy. Please people…move these to the back alley.

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Removed Account 08/18/2015 at 8:26 AM

This is a bit of a conundrum. As #13 posted above, there are many homes in Church Hill that do not have alleyways behind them, nor do they have driveways or passageways (between structures) wide enough accommodate a supercan.

That is the case with a home we own on the 400 block of 27th street. Thankfully, our house has a small space (between the front porch of neighbors house) just wide enough to stow a trash supercan and a new recycling rolling bin. Our kind neighbors have graciously tolerated this placement over the years and while we know it’s not ideal, it’s better than leaving the 2 rolling bins on the sidewalk–which would be the only alternative location.

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Eric Huffstutler 08/18/2015 at 9:25 AM

@21 Removed Account

There are some rare cases when there are no “right of way” to place the cans but most homes in Church Hill do have them. It is how the utility people accessed meters in the early days when lines came in from the rear rather than the front. And where mail was also delivered, at the back door. There should always be some sort of “right of way” to the “right” of the property, no matter how narrow, to put them in your back yard if need be. But having them to the side is not as bad as sitting squarely in the middle of the front yard, which is just plain unattractive. You might as well sit an old mattress in the yard, same effect.

I have also seen many cans still in the street or on the sidewalk rather than being taken in. Cans can not be left on the sidewalk anyway because you can be fined $50 per can per day if they stay there more than 48 hours after pickup, I believe?

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ray 08/18/2015 at 1:30 PM

Eric –

You are probably right about the fine but this is yet another ordinance which I am sure is not enforced.

As for the new recycling bins, where the hell are we supposed to put all these things? I mean, the alleys and streets looked cluttered and crappy enough with just the old garbage bins and now we are doubling that number with these new bins?

And, was their any citizen input about any of this?

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Darlene Mallory 08/18/2015 at 1:37 PM

We thank everyone for recycling first of all; just a few reminders. Please do not place your 24 gallon bin into the new 95 gallon cart. If you do not wish to keep the bin; Rick Tatnall and myself will be giving the clean bins to area schools. These carts are to be placed at the same location as your trash can for collection. Also please make sure you register your cart at recyclingperks.com to earn your 50 points per collection.

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Michael T. 08/18/2015 at 9:22 PM

There is a Fresh Market in Main? Our tub was a wreck when we moved in so we just put recycled goods into paper bags and placed those on the curb. But I do like the new roller can!

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crd 08/19/2015 at 10:00 AM

@25 Fresh Market is in Carytown, it’s actually Ellwood at that point instead of Main. It’s behind Martin’s, on your right as you head west.

@24 where do we put the old bins for you to collect? I’ve got a dozen or so.

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Rick Tatnall 08/19/2015 at 12:15 PM

@crd and others with recycling bins willing to donate for use in Richmond schools – Darlene Mallory of the Clean City Commission and I will arrange for your bins to be distributed to RPS schools, starting in the East End. We have arranged with the Clay Street Market @ 30th & Clay (behind Chimbo Elementary) to accept the bins – there is one outside now to show where to leave them. Or I would be happy to come and pick them up if you have large numbers of them like crd – just email me at rick@replenishrichmond.com to arrange a pick-up. Thank you in advance for those that drop off their bins.

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Caleb Cox 08/22/2015 at 9:15 AM

The old bins might also make good planters … Ugly for sure but urban gardening!

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dontmincewords 08/23/2015 at 10:21 AM

Thanks for organizing, Rick. I have captured and released all the buckets from #myblockRVA but repurposed one for the trashcanless bus stop. If I see any curbside while I walk the dog, I’ll snag those for you too.

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Rick Tatnall 08/23/2015 at 1:48 PM

@dontmincewords – Thank you for your humane repurposing of your “not needed anymore” recycling bins. Anyone else who is willing to release their bins for a new purpose of in-school recycling in East End Richmond schools, starting with MLK Middle, please add to the growing stack at the Clay Street Market, 30th and Clay Streets. Also, a big shout out to Shawn and Sam and the Clay Street Market for being a community hub in this effort.

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