City Council's goal following the startup of the curbside recycling program for single family homes was to initiate an on-site opportunity for multi-family complexes. It is listed as a Top Priority in Council's 2010-2011 Strategic Plan.
City Council approved an ordinance on February 28, 2011 requiring all multi-family complexes of more than seven units on a single parcel to provide recycling for their residents. The effective date of the ordinance is August 28, 2011.
Complex owners and/or managers are to contract with a commercial recycling hauler for weekly pickup and set aside an area of containers on the complex property. Residents will be notified that the program is in place and what can and cannot be recycled. Owners and/or managers are to provide a bi-annual report to the City’s Environmental Services Department of the amount of recyclables collected. This is a state requirement.
The State of North Carolina prohibits the disposal of plastic bottles, aluminum cans and other items in the landfill. Recycling not only reduces the cost of making new products, conserves water, natural resources and reduces air pollution, it also provides a legal method of disposing of plastic bottles and aluminum cans.
