Members of the Northern Hills Homeowners Association received a close-up look at the new garbage and recycling program from the City of San Antonio. At the November general meeting Program Director David McDaniel briefed attendees on the new program and brought along two of the 96-gallon wheeled containers (called "carts") for a hands-on demonstration.

McDaniel explained the program should take two to three years to be introduced into neighborhoods throughout San Antonio. The program will have two collection days. One will be for garbage (the blue cart) and the other for recycling (the blue cart).

Each cart has a serial number linked to your street address. Because the carts are City property, you may not take them with you if you move. The City will not pick up trash left outside the cart. After garbage pick up, you must return the cart to your garage or behind your fence.

Trash should be bagged to help keep the inside of the cart clean and to prevent litter from blowing around the neighborhood during the pick up process. McDaniel warned everyone to be careful where they placed the carts on collection day. He said they must not be under low hanging trees, nor within five feet of vehicles, mailboxes, utility poles or other obstacles.

The arrow on the lid of the cart must be pointing toward the street. You should have the cart rolled out for pick up by 7 A.M. on the designated collection day. The City plans on one collection day per week for the blue garbage cart and one day per week for the blue recycle cart.

McDaniel promised literature about the new carts would be distributed to all residents prior to implementing the program. Please call 311 or visit www.sanantonio.gov/enviro if you have further questions.

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