A program aimed at kick-starting curbside recycling programs in cities around the country is adding two more participants, including one that expects to add plastics containers.
Both Greenville, S.C., and Roanoke, Va., are working with The Recycling Partnership, a non-profit group that works to leverage private funding to help out public recycling efforts.
Roanoke, the partnership said, received a grant to assist with education and outreach. The city is moving to a fully automated program with carts at each home featuring RFID technology to track participation.
Greenville will use a grant from the partnership to purchase 96-gallon carts, and for an educational campaign.
“Greenville runs a strong program that will greatly benefit from the added capacity at the curb,” said Keefe Harrison, executive director of the partnership, in a statement.
Greenville expects to distribute the new carts in the spring and anticipates adding plastic containers to its list of acceptable materials, the partnership reported.
Roanoke is receiving money through the partnership's 2014 grant cycle, and Greenville is receiving the cash through the program's 2015 grant cycle.
A trio of other 2014 grantees “are well on their way with their program transitions,” the partnership said. Florence, Ala., has distributed new carts. Columbia, S.C., and Richmond, Va., are currently distributing carts to their households.
Distribution of larger roll-out carts is one way the partnership is working to improve the number of people as well as the volume of recyclables captured through curbside collection. These larger carts provide more space for recyclables and are easier for citizens to bring to the curb compared with hand-held bins that are still used in some communities.
The partnership, earlier this year, also announced funding for East Lansing, Mich. And the group said there is one more community to be announced.
