Image by Flickr user Scott Ableman
Update February 23: I've just gotten some answers to my questions about the overall state of recycling coverage in West Ashley.
Jenny Bloom, a community representative with Charleston County Environmental Management said that this expansion mainly targeted the last remaining "doughnut hole" in West Ashley, Carolina Bay on Savannah Highway.
She continued to say that all the other single-family areas in West Ashley are now getting curbside service but that "multi family residence, commercial and more rural areas are not uniformly receiving curbside service."
Bloom says that getting these places covered are a key goal to move from the current 10% recycling rate towards the 40% goal.
First reporting: If you've been wanting to recycle in your part of West Ashley but have been frustrated by a lack of pickup, then I have good news to share.
Well a good news press release anyways:
Charleston County Expands Curbside Recycling Program
Environmental Management beginning curbside pickup in new West Ashley neighborhoods
Charleston County’s Environmental Management Department is expanding its curbside recycling pickup service, beginning with several new West Ashley neighborhoods.
Service to Carolina Bay Estates, Cypress, Tidewater, Saltgrass, Ricefields, Essex and Bolton’s Landing neighborhoods, with approximately 525 occupied residences, will begin Wednesday, February 24.
“We plan to increase curbside pickup systematically,” said Cynthia Campbell, Environmental Management’s Business Manager. “We are rolling out a plan to address doughnut holes in our service areas.”
To improve recycling collection data, recycling trucks are now equipped with counters that drivers use to track homeowner recycling participation rates. This data, along with efficiencies implemented to truck route operations, have led to opportunities to increase neighborhood coverage.
“We are pleased to begin to see the results of operational improvements and are excited by the increased productivity that is allowing for the strategic expansion of services,” said Hal Crawford, Environmental Management’s Collection Manager.
With the addition of the new neighborhoods, Charleston County’s curbside recycling program services approximately 110,258 homes. Recyclables are also collected at 75 drop site locations and eight staffed convenience centers located primarily in the rural areas of the county.
Recyclable materials are picked up on a bi-weekly basis, and residents along pickup routes are asked to have their recycling bins at the curb by 7 a.m. on the day of pickup.
Blue bins have been delivered to the communities added to the curbside service and are also available to all Charleston County residents for pickup at Charleston County’s Recycling Center at 13 Romney Street in downtown Charleston from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.
A list of what recyclables can be placed in the blue bins for pickup, the 2010 curbside recycling calendar and more are available at recycle.charlestoncounty.org.
For more information about Charleston County Environmental Management, visit recycle.charlestoncounty.org or call (843) 720-7111.
Visit the Charleston County Web site at www.charlestoncounty.org for news, services and up-to-date information relating to Charleston County Government.
