General Commingle FAQ - Clark County

1. When will I get my cart?
New Cart Recycling Program: Frequently Asked Questions
We will begin delivering carts in April and we will implement the program area by area until late 2009.
You will be notified by mail prior to delivery and first pick up. Download the map from the Clark
County Recycling website.
Yacolt/La Center/Battleground residents: Carts will be delivered area by area. You will be notified by
mail prior to delivery and first pick up. Download the map from the Clark County Recycling website.
Currently there is no scheduled time to switch to carts in Camas, Ridgefield, Vancouver, or
Washougal.
Vancouver residents: The City of Vancouver is continuing to discuss recycling options, including the
possibility of carts and costs, with Waste Connections. No decision has been made yet. Another
workshop with the City Council is expected by mid-year. If they opt for the cart-based recycling
system, it wouldn't likely start until late 2009/early 2010. If you’d like to comment on the recycling cart
option you can send an email to solidwaste@ci.vancouver.wa.us.
2. What do I do with my old bins?
You will keep one of your existing bins and use it for recycling your glass bottles and jars. You have
the option to keep the other two bins to use them for other purposes OR if you don’t want the other
two bins you should place them at the curb for pickup the Saturday following your cart delivery.
3. Why do I have to separate my glass?
Glass and paper cannot be mixed together. Broken glass gets in the paper mix and causes problems
where materials are sorted and at paper mills.

4. What can I recycle in my cart?
Paper: newspapers, magazines & catalogs, milk and juice cartons, cereal/cracker/shoe boxes,
cardboard, paper bags, mail and office paper.
Metal: clean metal cans and lids, clean foil pie plates, and trays, empty aerosol cans and other small
metal items. Small metal items must be smaller than 24 inches in any direction and less than 35
pounds.
Plastics: Plastic bottles, plastic tubs, nursery pots, and plastic buckets (5 gal or less).
5. What plastics can I put in my cart?
YES: We accept clean plastic bottles, tubs (such as yogurt or butter tubs,) buckets and nursery pots
no larger than 5 gallons in size.
NO: Styrofoam, Plastic take-out containers, produce “clamshells” (such as cherry tomato or berry
containers), and plastic bags cannot go in your cart. Some plastics not accepted at the curb can be
dropped off at one of the transfer stations. Check recyclinga-z.com to find recycling options for
plastics not accepted at the transfer stations.

6. Why a cart system?
o The amount of recycling material collected is staying the same while the amount of
garbage is increasing. Making it easier to recycle will encourage more recycling.
o Cart lids keep materials dry and contained so they don’t blow around neighborhoods.
o Cart collection is safer for the drivers and will reduce injuries.
o The carts have more room compared to the three bin system.
o Sorting is reduced, therefore the cart system is more convenient to use. You also will
not have to put out the cart every week. You can put it out only when it’s full.
o After a pilot program with carts was completed last spring, 95% of customers
recommended using carts over the 3-bin system.
7. Where do I put my batteries, antifreeze, and motor oil?
Please place your motor oil or antifreeze in a 1-gallon, clear plastic jug with a screw cap and next to
your glass only bin.
Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, Lithium, Mercury, Ni-Cad.) should be placed in a clear, resealable
plastic bag and on the top of your cart.
8. Why do I have to have space between my cart and garbage containers?
The truck that services the cart has automated arms that wrap around the sides of the cart. Your cart
must be 3 feet from your garbage can and 5 feet from cars and other objects or it will not be emptied.
If we attempt to empty the cart, your garbage can may be knocked over, or we could damage
property that is near the cart.
9. Can I keep using my 3-bin system for recycling?
No, you will continue to use one of your bins for glass only. All other recyclables must go in the cart
because the truck for your recycling service is designed for use with the cart only. Glass is the only
material that will be collected from a bin.
You have the option to keep your bins to use them for other purposes.
Any bins you don’t want should be placed at the curb by 6 AM on the Saturday following your cart
delivery and will be removed over the weekend.

10. What’s going to happen to all the old bins collected?
Bins in good condition will be reused as glass bins. Broken bins will be ground up, recycled, and
used to make carts.
11. Where do I take material that you do not accept curbside?
www.recyclinga-z.com has listings for where to take hundreds of other items such as Styrofoam,
sports equipment, hazardous waste, and electronic devices. Many items can also be taken to the
transfer stations. Call before you drive.
Transfer Station Hours of Operation
West Van Materials Recovery Center
(360) 737-1727
6601 NW Old Lower River Rd
Vancouver, WA 98660
Central Transfer and Recycling Center
(360) 256-8482
11034 NE 117th Avenue
Vancouver, WA 98662
Washougal Transfer Station
(360) 835-2500
4020 South Grant St.
Washougal, WA 98671
12. Will my pick up day change?
No, your pick up day will not change.
13. When is my first pick up?
Monday - Friday 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.;
Saturday & Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Monday – Saturday 8AM – 4PM
You will be notified by mail when your cart will be delivered, then your first pick up will be the following
week.

14. How often will my cart be emptied?
The frequency of pick up will be the same as your current schedule. But you only have to place your
cart out when it starts to get full.
Customers who participated in the pilot program with every other week pickups will now have
recycling service every week.
Rural customers will continue to have every other week recycling service.
Call Waste Connections, (360) 892-5370 if you need more information about your recycling service.
15. Can I use my own container for glass?
No, please put a GLASS ONLY sticker (from the packet that came with your cart) on one of your
existing recycling bins and use it for glass. If you have extra glass bottles and jars, please hold it until
your next pick up. If you regularly have more recycling than the bin will hold, please call Waste
Connections, (360) 892-5370 to discuss options.
16. How does the driver know if there is garbage in the cart or not?
All of the recycling trucks have video cameras to monitor your recycling cart for garbage and glass.
Also, when the materials are dropped off at the transfer station they will be able to visually inspect for
items that are not accepted in the program. Monitoring recycling will help us educate residents who
aren’t recycling correctly.
17. Can I use my cart for yard debris or garbage?
No, yard debris, recycling, and garbage are separate services. Yard debris service is available in
most areas and it can also be taken to the transfer stations or to any of the facilities listed on
www.recyclinga-z.com under yard debris.