Starting this month, City of Mesquite Solid Waste crews will distribute green recycling bins to about one-third of Mesquite residents who were chosen to take part in a pilot recycling program.

Ten thousand bins will be delivered to neighborhoods selected to be part of the pilot program. The distribution areas were chosen to provide a wide range of socio-economic and geographic representation in the city. The pilot neighborhoods will be monitored to see what kind of impact the bins have on recycling rates. If the bins significantly increase recycling, then officials will look to purchase more to cover other parts of the community.

If you have not been recycling, this is a great time to start! Studies show about 50% of household waste can be recycled, and it's cheaper to recycle than to pay to put waste in a landfill. All recyclable items, such as plastic, glass, aluminum/tin cans, mixed paper and cardboard, may be placed in the bin together. There is no need to separate items. Recyclables are collected weekly on one of your regular trash collection days. For those not in the pilot program, the blue recycling bags will still be collected.

Although the bins are the property of the City of Mesquite, they will be provided at no cost to make recycling more convenient and cost-effective for residents. In fact, the bins were purchased with grant money awarded from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

If you decide NOT to participate in the recycling pilot program, please contact the Recycling Hotline at 972-216-6972 so we can pick up your bin. Also, for more information on what and how to recycle, please call the Recycling Hotline or log on to the City's Web site at: www.cityofmesquite.com.

-City of Mesquite

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