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Curbside recycling test project scheduled to start in November

STEUBENVILLE – Eileen Krisak was very interested in the curbside recycling pilot program that is set to start in her neighborhood in early November.

And she had questions for JB Green Team Executive Director Cliff Meyer Monday evening during an informational meeting at Jim Wood Park.

Krisak wanted to know where to take her glass items for future recycling after Meyer said glass should not be placed in the 96-gallon bins that will be distributed to 400 willing pilot program participants.

“We will set up glass recycling containers at the Pugliese West Elementary School and we will contact other sites to see if we can place the containers at a more convenient location for your neighborhood,” answered Meyer.

A one-year curbside recycling test program is set to start in early November for 400 residents in the Buena Vista, Alexander Manor and Cunningham Lane neighborhoods.

According to Mayor and Acting City Manager Domenick Mucci, the list of participants will be determined on a first-come basis.

“We will be sending out 642 letters in the near future. The first 400 residents who return the stamped postcard indicating they are interested in being part of the one-year program will received a recycling bin with an identification number. The city and the JB Green Team are co-sponsoring the pilot program but it is really the residents who will determine the success of the program,” said Mucci.

He said the bins will be distributed to the 400 participants by the city’s sanitation department in late October, “and we are planning to kick off the program in early November.”

“Your sanitation collection is on Fridays, so we are asking participants to put their recycling bin at the curb on Mondays for collection by a JB Green Team recycling truck,” explained Mucci.

Meyer said part of the one-year program’s success will be determined by participation and the economic aspects of curbside recycling.

“We are asking participants to only put paper and cardboard, plastics and metal items in the bins. Glass put into the recycling bins will have to be taken out and that will cost us money. We want to make this work and we are asking participants to help us recycle properly,” explained Myer.

Fifth Ward Councilman Willie Paul had lobbied to include the Buena Vista subdivision in the pilot program, “because they already had their own recycling program in place.”

“This will save the city money in landfill tipping fees and will make the world a better place for our children and grandchildren. And hopefully the JB Green Team will make some money from recycling the materials,” said Paul.

Myer said the program will run for one year, “and then we will determine if curbside recycling is feasible for the entire city.”

A similar pilot program soon will start in Martins Ferry under the direction of the JB Green Team.

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