Effective Dec. 4, Iowa City is adopting a change in its curbside recycling program, changing to a single-stream system.
鈥淧art of the goal here is to increase participation,鈥� Iowa City recycling coordinator Jane Wilch said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an easier program to participate in.鈥�
In a single stream, recyclable materials 鈥� except for plastic bags and glass items 鈥� do not require sorting before curbside pickup. Plastic bags and glass items will not be allowed in the interest of the well-being of the workers and functionality of the machines.
Iowa City residents will be able to place all of the other recyclables in the 18-gallon bins as usual.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been in the discussion for many years,鈥� Wilch said. 鈥淲e took notes on other communities and looked at the success of single stream.鈥�
Wilch said Iowa City looks to improve upon existing single-sort systems.
鈥淭he main thing that we鈥檝e seen from other communities is they鈥檝e seen a slight increased rate of contamination,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e want to monitor the bins closely and do more outreach and education.鈥�
At 9 a.m. Wednesday, the city of Iowa City鈥檚 official Twitter account will do a live 鈥淭weet-along鈥� to explain how single-stream recycling works and to educate the public on how to recycle. All information on the city鈥檚 new system will be available on the official Iowa City website.
Wilch also said residents looking to recycle, items including plastic bags and glass materials may do so at Iowa City鈥檚 various recycling drop-off points: East Side Recycling Center, 2401 Scott Blvd. S.E.; Republic Services (formerly City Carton Recycling), 3 E. Benton St.; 1201 N. Dodge St.; and Iowa City Landfill & Recycling Center, 3900 Hebl Ave. S.W.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great system,鈥� said George McCrory, a UI Sustainability Office communications specialist. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been something we鈥檝e been doing at the university since 2011.鈥�
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