Central Arkansas residents will soon have a few more items they can put in their curbside recycling bin. Starting next Monday, December 1, plastic and paper to-go cups will be accepted in curbside recycle carts. The change only applies to cups and drink sleeves 鈥� lids and straws won鈥檛 be accepted, nor will Styrofoam and other types of plastic cups.
In a news conference at the Port of Little, Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde said the goal is to cut down on some of the most commonly-littered items. 鈥淭hat means that your coffee cups, drive-thru drink cups and even those heat sleeves can now join plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, cartons and cardboard in the recycling cart,鈥� Hyde said. 鈥淭his is a big deal, because every cup we keep out of the landfill and off our roadsides is a win for our environment and for future generations.鈥�
Other containers, like cartons, milk jugs and two-liter bottles are able to be placed in curbside recycling, along with glass and paper products. Hyde credited the partnership between Waste Management and the Regional Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Pulaski County with helping make the change possible.