Recycling Chief Says Pickups Changed

By AMY WOLD

Recycling chief says pickups changed

Since a new recycling contractor took over operations in East Baton Rouge Parish on Nov. 1, theres been some confusion for residents using the service.

Susan Hamilton, recycling director for the parish, said her office has been getting calls from people wondering why a garbage truck is picking up their recycling, in addition to other questions.

Hamilton said one day this week her office got more than 50 phone calls, up from the 15 calls on an average day.

One thing people are confused about is the time of day the recycling gets picked up.

Hamilton said the old contract for recycling had pickups starting at 5 a.m. while the new one has pickups starting at 4 a.m.

What were really trying to encourage people to do is put out their bins the night before, Hamilton said.

Under the new contract, The Recycling Foundation, Inc. can get fined for missing recycling pickups, she explained. However, residents who put their bins out at 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. might be missing the trucks that have already gone through their neighborhood.

If the bins go out to the street late, Hamilton said, its really not a missed stop.

Everybodys day is the same but the time the truck comes by may be different, she said.

Because the contract also has the recycling company collecting much later into the evening, Hamilton also asked that people not report a missed pickup until the next day. The new contract has the trucks working until dark, not just until the afternoon, she said.

In addition, the companys trucks have some people confused as to why their recycling is being picked up as garbage, Hamilton said.

Actually, the garbage-truck looking vehicles are being used in preparation for a switch to a new system of recycling this spring that will allow people to put all their recycling into one bin, she said.

Anyone who has had a recycling collection missed or needs a green bin for recycling can call the East Baton Rouge Parish Citizens Service at (225) 389-3090.

For general questions on recycling, but not for missed collections or green bin request, call The Recycling Office at (225) 389-5194 or The Recycling Foundation, (225) 925-3442.

More information and updates on recycling in Baton Rouge can be found on the Recycling Offices Web site, http://www.brgov.com/dept/ recycle.