The City of Sterling is making a big change to how your garbage and recycling are picked up and how the program is paid for.
Trash pickup: Currently, citizens must throw household waste into a special waste pickup bag that must be purchased at the current price of $1.60 each. Buying bags helps encourage people to cut down waste, but it also comes with the inconvenience of buying special bags, ripping and tearing of bags, animals, additional plastic in the landfill, etc.
In July, we will switch to 64+/- gallon garbage carts. No more need for late night trash bag runs on trash night! Simply place your kitchen trash bags in the cart and wheel it to the curb on trash night. The lid will help contain the garbage and keep litter from blowing and animals from getting too inquisitive. The carts are surprisingly easy to move, and unlike a bag, you don't have to drag it nor lift it! If it's still too cumbersome due to a bona fide medical condition or similar, the hauler will work to help you get it picked up.
We also hope that buy having a set fee and no bags to buy, we can help eliminate illegal dumping and trash accumulation in our neighborhoods!
Recycling pickup: Currently, residents have an 18 gallon recycle tub to place all recyclables in. Unfortunately, 18 gallons is hardly enough for most residents these days as we've gotten better about recycling. The open bins overflow and on windy days, we find a lot of plastics in the street. Residents will now receive a second cart for recyclables of either 42 or 64 gallons (to be determined). Everything you can currently recycle, you can continue to recycle, except now you have more room and there will be less litter blowing around your neighborhood!
Rewards $$$! We are very excited to introduce RecycleBank to you! Sterling will be just the 2nd city in Illinois to partner with RecycleBank to bring you rewards just for recycling! Check out their website for more details! In short, each cart is weighed and the more your area of town recycles, the greater the monthly rewards. These rewards include gift certificates and coupons to local and national businesses. If you take advantage of these rewards, you've just taken down your monthly cost of waste disposal while doing your part to help the environment. How neat is that?
Check out these YouTube videos about RecycleBank: Video 1 Video 2 Video 3
Costs: Currently, residents pay $7.50/mo on their water bill for Solid Waste, which includes recycling, yard waste and trash. Additionally, residents pay $1.60 for each "City bag" that has to be used. If you use one bag per week, you'll pay $13.90 to $15.50 per month depending on the number of pick up days that month. Now, you'll have a bill of approximately $13.85 +/- and you'll also get credits back for recycling, effectively reducing that amount even further!
FAQ
When will my trash recycling be picked up?
At this point, your current pick up dates will not change
How will my yard waste be disposed of?
Just as it is now, using either the Kraft paper bags or a container marked with a large "X." You will also have the option of buying a yard waste specific cart if you like.
Do I set my trash in the same place?
At this point, yes. The cart does require space on either side of the cart for the truck to pick up the cart. The Council is considering whether to move trash collection out of the alleys. Alleys require significant maintenance due to the weight of the trucks combined with the freezing and thawing of the alleys each year. Alleys are not built with the same strength as city streets which have much stronger bases beneath them. Trash trucks also run over curbs at alley entrances due to the tight turns required at many alleys. If the Council chooses to move to street collection only, you would be allowed to store your cart neatly against the side of your house.
Who else uses carts?
In Northern Illinois and the Quad Cities, Rock Island, Moline, Dixon, Naperville, Bettendorf, Macomb, Davenport, Sycamore, Mendota, Princeton use carts for trash collection.
Can they be used in the snow?
Toronto, Ontario; Minneapolis,MN; Fargo,ND; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Detroit,MI; Anchorage, AK; Milwaukee, WI; Toledo, OH; Bozeman, MT; Grand Rapids, MI; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Billings, MT; Casper, WY; Rapid City, SD; Bismarck,ND; and Madison, WI are all major northern cities that have successfully adopted various cart collection systems. Carts are easily pushed or pulled down driveways or yards by design. While larger than a bag, there's no lifting, dripping or balancing a heavy bag while walking down the drive. No need to push drag or carry a heavy recycling cart to the curb either.
Do I have to buy the carts?
You will receive a trash cart and a recycle cart as part of your regular bill at no additional charge. You may elect to choose a larger trash container for a monthly premium. Yard waste carts are available for separate purchase. The trash and recycle carts are property of the waste hauler. The yard waste cart would become yours and your responsibility.
All of my trash won't fit in the 64 gallon cart, what do I do?
If this is a rare occurrence, you will be able to purchase stickers to place on extra bags like today's bulk waste stickers. If this is a frequent occurrence, you may want to, or you may be asked to switch to a larger container. Most families won't have this issue with good recycling habits. The 64 gallon carts hold more than an equivalent sized bag since there are no wasted corners or lost space to tie up the bags.
In all, this should be a cost effective means to cleaner neighborhoods, added convenience and increased recycling!
