Comments on: Litter From ECUA Trash Trucks?

By: LULU

LULU — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:08:12 +0000

I would just like to thank NorthEscambia.com for putting this story online. It may seem like trivial stuff to some, but for those of us who are new to recycling this forum has been very educational. Getting tips and info from others has been very helpful. And thanks also to ECUA & Larry Walker for reading about our concerns & addressing them here.

By: L.A. Stevens

L.A. Stevens — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:30:36 +0000

I started getting paper bags at the grocery store again. I’m using those to line my 13 gallon garbage can in the kitchen, putting my recyclables in that. When it’s nearly full I roll the top down and put it in my 90 gallon recycling container. I understand not putting the plastic grocery bags in the recycling at all because they blow all around. If you’re going to use those plastic bags, the grocery stores have bins by their doors where you can drop them off for the store’s recycling program. They shouldn’t go in the regular garbage can either.

On a side note, I’ve been very surprised at how much we were throwing away that can be recycled. Even with twice a week pick up, my can was nearly always full. But we must have had a pretty even split between recyclables and trash. We go through a LOT of milk jugs, laundry soap, cereal boxes etc. Since we started having once a week pick up, my trash has only been over-flowing once (and that was following a child’s birthday party). I am pleasantly surprised. I say ECUA gets a pat on the back for a good job.

By: N. Bowers, ECUA Public Information

N. Bowers, ECUA Public Information — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:28:39 +0000

We are finding that lightweight items such as plastic grocery bags are flying out of recycling trucks AND garbage trucks. William’s quote from Dr. Walker is accurate– it is perfectly OK to use plastic garbage or grocery bags to bag lightweight items destined for your garbage can or recycling can. The recyclables will be removed from the plastic bag at the recycling center.
I hope this helps.

Also, if you are still waiting for your recycling container, please let us know. You can email support@ecua.org. Please explain that you have already requested one and are still waiting. List your address, requested can size and daytime telephone number. You can also call our customer service line at 476-0480.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:45:28 +0000

PAT, send Larry Walker an email @ lwalker@ecua.org
and tell him your situation. He’ll be able to contact a supervisor and at least be able to tell when you can expect a can. And he’s not adverse to receiving emails since he’s posted it on this site several times before.

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:54:56 +0000

I just wish I had my recycle can. We’ve been waiting patiently.

By: bratt resident

bratt resident — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:04:07 +0000

I talked to Larry Walker about this and he said we could put trash bags in our recycle can. When I talked to ECUA they said no. He was going to check on this, but he thought that he was correct.

By: William

William — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:02:07 +0000

I went back and found this in an email from Larry Walker, Mr. ECUA District 5:

“Suggestion: put loose paper inside a tightly closed paper sack or plastic bag. Yes, the instructions say that one should not put plastic bags in the recyclables collection. However, it is okay to use a plastic bag to contain paper items in the recyclables collection. ”

I have been putting my loose paper in a regular plastic garbage bag, and the recycle police have not come a knocking — yet.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:46:08 +0000

LULU, is that information from ECUA? Guess I can start “bagging” today! They should probably let everyone else know this as well.

By: Regina Hare

Regina Hare — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:43:43 +0000

I have spoken to ECUA on two different occasions about recycling items. We are NOT allowed to put any kind of plastic bags in the recycling can. This includes garbage bags as well as grocery store bags. The only exception being if you have a shredder. You may put shredded paper in a grocery or garbage bag. All other items are to simply be placed in the can for recycling……..and of course it blows all over the place as soon as they try to dump it.

By: LULU

LULU — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:55:56 +0000

Bagging IS allowed.