Arlington's curbside recycling program has grown by more than 10% in the last year, thanks in part to a new collection system.

Last summer, Arlington switched from manual curbside recycling collection to automated. During the conversion, Republic Services delivered 95,000 recycling carts to city residents. Since then, Arlington residents have recycled 22,863 tons of material, a 13.5% increase.

Curbside recycling is a core service provided by Arlington because it provides a convenient way for residents to actively recycle on a daily basis. The switch to carts instead of bins was implemented in an effort to increase recycling, decrease worker injuries, reduce litter resulting from material blowing out of bins and create less air pollution due to CNG collection vehicles.

Initially, some residents were concerned about the size of the carts because of storage and maneuverability but in the end, less than 400 residents opted not to receive carts. And since then, over 70 residents have requested additional carts. Plus, new carts are delivered to about 35 new residents per week.

As a result of the increased recycling, the City is seeing less trash being taken to the landfill and there have been zero worker injuries since going automated. And as in the past, Arlington residents do a great job of maximizing recycling with minimal contamination. A list of approved items for recycling can be found the lid of the recycling carts. There are some things that may be recyclable but not in the curbside program.

"I receive frequent calls from residents that want to recycle everything from Styrofoam to garden hoses and fire extinguishers in the curbside program, said Lorrie Anderle, recycling coordinator for the City of Arlington. "While the sorting process has improved, not all items that are recyclable may go into the curbside carts."

As a part of the new program, residents may now recycle plastic bags, pizza boxes, aluminum foil wrap/pie pans, empty aerosol cans and aseptic packing such as juice boxes in the curbside program. A video showing the sorting process is available at www.arlingtontx.gov/recycle.

"It's very interested, especially the overhead vacuum vents that they use to feed the plastic bag baler," Anderle said.