(Washington, DC) Distribution of the new blue recycling carts will be complete in Ward 8 by mid-next week, marking completion of east-of-the-river distribution. Delivery of the wheeled carts will continue at a rate of approximately 4,000 per week until all DC neighborhoods are covered, sometime in late May.

The single-stream recycling pilot program conducted in a small area of Ward 7 in June 2003 has proven so successful that the Department of Public Works is now implementing the program citywide. Residents who receive city trash and recyclables service can now put all their recyclable materials into their bins or carts, without sorting paper separately.

Central to the program are the new blue recycling carts that will replace the old bins in almost all neighborhoods. Built like miniature Supercans, the carts have wheels and lids. Once the blue carts have been delivered, customers will no longer have to lift and carry the heavy bins. The new program will also introduce more residents to single stream recycling, which means that all recyclables will go into the same container.

DPW's Solid Waste Management Administration and its Labor Management partner, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local 2091, spent a year studying the current recycling collection system, as well as several alternatives before developing the pilot program.

James Ivey, President of Local 2091, said "We are pleased to have this opportunity to show that public employees can deliver comparable or better service at a cost competitive with the private sector."

Before the pilot began, an average of 17 percent of the residents were setting out recyclables for collection. The average amount set out per customer was 1.5 pounds. During the pilot, participation increased to 46 percent and the amount set out per customer rose to six pounds.

"We think this is going to improve service to our residents and increase recycling across the city," said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr.