Curbside Recycling Program to Begin in January

The City of Paducah is working on a curbside recycling program for residents.

At Tuesday night's Paducah City Commission meeting, Public Information Officer Pam Spencer presented to the Paducah Board of Commissioners additional details about the single-stream curbside recycling program currently under development in addition to the proposed changes to the solid waste program, including grass clippings and yard waste collection. 

Spencer and Assistant to the City Manager Michelle Smolen, City Engineer & Public Works Director Rick Murphy, and Assistant Public Works Director Chris Yarber have been working on the program details since September.

The plan is to start the program in January for residential service only with voluntary participation, with an additional $3 monthly fee for subscribers. Collection of recyclables would take place twice per month at curbside/roadside only, with no collection in alleys. The City plans to use blue 96-gallon rollout containers. 

The added fee would bring residents' total solid waste charge to $19.50 per month. Sign up for the curbside program will begin in November through a web link or by calling the Engineering-Public Works Department. The current recycling drop-off location at Freedom Waste (400 State Street) will remain open for use.

For large collection of brush and yard waste, residents would need to place piles or bags at the curbside and call the Engineering-Public Works Department for a collection. Crews will complete the collection in 5 business days with no additional charge to the customer.  
 
The city still has several steps left before the program is implemented, including amending the current solid waste ordinance and partnering with Paducah Water for billing.