Weekly Recycling Pickup Starts Monday

Weekly recycling pickup - a move some residents have been pushing for years - officially kicks off on Monday.

All Beverly residents can put out their recycling for weekly collection, according to an announcement from Joyce McMahon of McMahon Communications, who works on economic development for the city.

The change coincides with the start of a new contract with the city’s trash hauler, JRM Hauling and Recycling.

“Every pound of trash diverted into recycling is good for the planet and saves money,” Mayor Bill Scanlon said in a written announcement announcing the change. “We hope that weekly collection will encourage more people to recycle.”

One other change comes with the city's new trash contract - the number of 35 gallon trash barrels and bags each residence or living unit will be allowed to place out for pickup drops from 10 per week to five.

“In order to pay for the increased recycling pick-ups, we’ve had to drop the limit of refuse collected; I think people will find that the more paper, glass, plastic and tin they put in their recycling bin, the fewer trash bags and barrels they’ll need," Scanlon said. "In the end it’s all good for the community and the environment.”

All of the same types of materials are still accepted for recycling and the maximum weight for any trash barrel or bag remains at 40 pounds.

For more details about the changes, visit the city's trash and recycling website. After checking the city website, residents with further recycling questions can call 978-605-2355 or email their recycling questions to recycle@beverlyma.gov and expect to have an answer within 24 hours. The responses are provided by volunteer members of the city’s Solid Waste Management Committee.