Helpful Hints for New Trash and Recycling Toters

With the changes to curbside collection and recycling recently announced by the city, many residents have begun receiving their new, giant-economy size trash and recycling toters.

While some residents may be eager to lug these trash and recycling container behemoths to the curb as soon as possible, they may need to put the brakes on. Keep those shiny new containers stowed away for a few more weeks, since they won’t be picked up until Nov. 2.

Here are some helpful hints on what to do with the new bins,

• Keep using your old barrels and recycle bins until NOVEMBER 2. Trash will not be collected in the new bins until then.
  
• Put your address and/or apartment number on your cart.
  
• You can dispose of your old trash barrels after November 2 at the Department of Public Services at 5 Jefferson Avenue. Or, use them for yard waste.
• You can dispose of your old recycle bins after November 2 at North Shore Recycled Fibers at 53 Jefferson Avenue. Or, use them for storage around the house.

As of Nov. 2, about 2,600 residents will have a new trash collection day, and recycling collection will change to every other week.

Residents can identify their curbside collection day by using the online map tool available at http://mapsonline.net/salemma/trashroutes.html.