More recycling bins coming to city to boost positive recycling trends

Since the distribution of 95-gallon recycling carts to residents two years ago in the City of Warren, recycling has increased by 1,200 tons.

That is according to Sanitation Superintendent Gary Sikora, who said the commitment to recycling on the part of residents has caused the big, blue recycling bins with the green lids to be in very high demand, so much so that the sanitation department has had a hard time providing carts for all residents who have submitted a request.

At its March 23 meeting, Warren City Council unanimously approved a purchase order for 1,098 recycling carts from Schafer Waste at a cost of $49,157.46. Schafer Waste agreed to waive shipping charges for this order. It is meant to get the sanitation department through the current budget year and ensure those who requested recycling carts get them. Sikora said he is planning for 5,000 more carts in the 2021-22 budget year.

“This is the first step to getting all caught up,” said Sikora. “It is overwhelming the participation we are getting now with the recycling and the compost because of these carts over the past two years. The recycling has gone up and is still increasing.”

Sikora said COVID has impacted the delivery of the carts to residents. Currently, the sanitation department has 600 carts that need to be delivered. Many residents have opted to pick up them up from sanitation, which has helped with distribution.

“We are getting them out as fast as we can, but it is not going to be a quick fix,” said Sikora. “It is going to take some time to get them all delivered.”

When the city went to the uniform 95-gallon bins two years ago for trash, recycling and compost, the trash bins were automatically distributed to residents. The recycling and compost bins were furnished upon request. As more and more residents realized they had to request the additional carts, the calls to sanitation increased tremendously.

“It was request only for recycling and compost originally,” said Sikora. “People just started calling and one thing led to another to where we are now. We are working on it the best we can.”

Sikora said all of the carts are under warranty through Schafer and that malfunctioning cans will be picked up and replaced by Warren sanitation. He estimates that 10 carts per week might fall into that category. He urges residents to put their address on all carts in case the wind blows them away from their home.