Residents will need to use special bags, cans to dispose of items
COLUMBIA, MO (KMIZ)
Christmas day is coming to an end, and this holiday comes with a lot of clean-up. As folks are preparing to throw out wrapping paper, boxes and more, there are a few things the cities of Columbia and Jefferson city want residents to be aware of.
Over the next few days, before Columbia residents can throw out wrapping paper, they will need to place their items in the city bag or can before they can sit their trash on the curb. In February, the City of Columbia implemented its pay-as-you-throw program that now requires residents to use city branded bags for recycling and trash disposal.
Matt Nestor, information specialist for City of Columbia utilities said gift-wrapping cannot be recycled anymore.
"A lot of the wrapping paper today is made with is made with foil and other compounds that make the paper unable to be recycled, so we also ask that you put that in the trash and keep that out of our recycling," Nestor said.
According to Brightly E-Co, the U.S. population produces more than 2 billion pounds of garbage per week during the holidays. Columbia residents will need to make sure they have both blue and black city branded bags before throwing items out.
The blue bags will only be used for glass, plastics metal and aluminum. Boxes will also need to be broken down.
"We ask that people don't put their cardboard, paper products in the blue bags," Nestor said. "You put those into another box or a paper bag and leave those out on your regular recycling days."
Karlie Reinkemeyer, Neighborhood Services Specialist for Jefferson City, said both cardboard and paper can go in the recycling can for Jefferson City residents.
"Just put your recycle material into the bin with the gray lid and your trash can go in the, the cart with the blue lid," said Reinkemeyer.
There will be no schedule changes for trash collection in Jefferson City. In Columbia, there are no collections for this weekend and collections will resume Monday.
To see a collection schedule for your neighborhood, go to the city of Columbia website or Republic Services for Jefferson City.
