Trash pickup days revised to increase route efficiency

Just a reminder that for some Gainesville residents, trash collection days changed beginning Sunday.

The city of Gainesville signed a new contract with Emerald Waste Services for the city's trash collection and, according to the city collection, dates were changed to create efficiencies in trash routes.

Residents who will see a shift as trash collection moves to a four-day schedule received notices on their trash cans over the past several weeks.

Additional changes to trash policies were made. Leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste can no longer be packaged in plastic bags and set out for the regular trash collection. Instead, brown paper lawn and leaf bags - which can be purchased in stores - must be used.

Bulk collection - old couches, carpet and other furniture - now will occur with regular trash pickup unless the item cannot be picked up by the haulers; in that case, it will be collected within 24 hours. No special appointment is necessary.

Finally, the items that can be recycled have increased. Citizens now can recycle in the orange bin pasteboard, such as cereal boxes, beverage cartons, shoe boxes and cracker boxes.

Residents can continue to recycle junk mail, office paper, margarine tubs, yogurt cups, glass and plastic bottles and jars, metal cans, empty aerosol cans, newspaper, corrugated cardboard, magazines, catalogs and brown paper bags.

For more information, visit www.gainesvillerecycles.com or call the Solid Waste Division at 334-2330.