Gargabe and recyling pickup schedules

Maintaining a clean and organized community is a shared responsibility that benefits us all. Proper waste management and garbage control are crucial, not just for the aesthetics of our neighborhood, but also for keeping costs down. Garbage is one of the few expenses we can directly control by making smarter choices, such as properly sorting waste and ensuring containers are used efficiently.

We encourage all residents to keep a watchful eye on the garbage and recycling areas. Your participation makes a significant difference. I hope everyone received the recent email outlining the garbage monitoring schedule and the expectations for each unit. By working together, we can maintain a tidy environment and manage our waste-related expenses effectively.

A NOTE ON FOOD WASTE:    There is no designated facility here for food waste which all ends up in the garbage and ultimately in landfill. You can bring your own green bin to the road for municipal collection on Tuesdays or, alternately you might consider installing a garbage disposal to reduce the amount of food waste going into the garbage bin.  

Thank you for your continued cooperation and commitment to our community!

What Goes Where and What to Look For:

Recycling:

• Paper (newspapers, magazines, office paper)
• Plastic containers (cleaned and separated)
• Glass bottles and jars
• Aluminum cans (crushed)
• Milk cartons and juice boxes (crushed)
• Thin cardboard (cereal and tissue boxes)

Garbage:

• Non-recyclable plastics (e.g., plastic wrap, chip bags)
• Styrofoam products
• Ceramics and broken glass
• Soiled paper products (tissues, napkins)
• General household waste

Compost: (if not being composted this can go in garbage not recycling) 

• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Tea bags
• Eggshells

Tuesday Curbside Pickup: 

• Corrugated Cardboard
• Yard Waste, Leaves & Seasonal Plants 
• Oversize Waste

Do’s:

• Crush cans before placing them in the recycling bin to save space.
• Break down and flatten all small boxes (e.g., pop boxes) and push them down the sides of the recycling bin to make space in the middle for more bulky items.
• Compact recycling bins with a broom or long stick to maximize space.
• Remove any corrugated cardboard (like shipping boxes) and take it to the curb for collection, as it does not belong in the bin.
• Separate plastic containers (like yogurt cups or takeout containers) and cut them into smaller pieces to fit better in the recycling bin.

Don'ts:

• Don’t place corrugated cardboard in the recycling bins; instead, place it at the curb for proper disposal.
• Don’t leave plastic containers unseparated or uncut—they must be pulled apart and cut into smaller pieces to fit efficiently.
• Don’t let the bins get overfilled. Compact the contents to allow for more room.

To ensure a fair distribution of this responsibility, each unit has been assigned a month to watch over the garbage

• August 2024 Unit 106
• September 2024 Unit 105
• October 2024 Unit 107
• November 2024 Unit 103
• December 2024 Unit 108
• January 2025 Unit 104
• February 2025 Unit 113 
• March 2025 Unit 111 
• April 2025 Unit 114
• May 2025 Unit 101
• June 2025 Unit 102 
• July 2025 Unit 112
• August 2025 Unit 109 
• September 2025 Unit 110
• October 2025 Unit 106
• November 2025 Unit 105
• December 2025 Unit 107

 Responsibilities of the "Garbage Patrol"

• Reduce dead space in the recycle bin by using something like a broom handle to push down the contents of the bin. 
• Remove any corrugated cardboard and take it to the road for municipal pickup on Tuesday mornings. 
• Flatten boxes that have been thrown in the bin whole, and slide them down the side of the bin. 
• Remove large whole clamshell containers and cut into smaller pieces. When boxes and large clamshell containers are thrown into the bin whole, they create a barrier that nothing else can get past. 
• Monitor the recycle bin for garbage which must be removed and put into the garbage bin. 
• Notify the board if an extra pickup is required outside the scheduled pickup  This must be done by noon on the Tuesday before the desired Thursday pickup to ensure we're scheduled by sending an email with subject line  "PICKUP NEEDED"  to riverbendwvlcc628@gmail.com. Please specify either garbage pickup,  recycling or both in the email.