After many years of work from residents and elected officials, the City of Trenton is ready to kick off their curbside recycling program. The program is set to begin the week of Jul 11, 2022 and will be collected bi-weekly on every resident’s currently scheduled refuse collection day.
City Administrator Dean Creech has been instrumental in the launch of the program. “We have to stop looking at this as a mere expense, but as an investment in our city and future generations,” Creech said about the program.
The city was able to secure grants from both the State of Michigan Department of EGLE and The Recycling Partnership, which will cover the majority of the initial investment needed for recycling carts and a truck. The carts, which are the same size as the city-provided trash cans, will be delivered to single family homes by the end of June along with information to help make recycling easier and more user-friendly for residents.
“We understand residents will have a lot of questions about recycling and hopefully the information will be helpful. We will also be hosting an open house at the Westfield Center at the end of June for those who have additional questions,” City Councilman Nelson Perugi states. That open house will be held on Tuesday, June 28 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. City officials and members of the recycling committee will be on hand to answer any questions residents may have.
The initial recycling program will only service single family households, but the city hopes to add multi-family homes and businesses in the future. “Adding this service will require additional staffing to our department, but we are happy to have the ability to take care of this in-house,” says DPW Director Kevin Sargent. Retaining in-house trash collection has been a priority throughout this process as the mayor and many members of council did not want to outsource this service.
To make sure this program is economically sustainable, an additional fee will be placed on residents’ water bills at a rate of $5.50 per month. Those who may be facing economic hardship and seniors over the age of 65 who are able to verify their ages at City Hall may receive a reduced rate of $3.00 per month. This fee will allow the city to keep the transfer station available to those who do not yet have curbside access.
Countless residents have expressed their overwhelming joy to see Trenton add this service to the community. They hope it will make Trenton a greener, and even more desirable place to live.
Trenton is a thriving bedroom community of approximately 19,000 residents covering just over 7 square miles in southeast Michigan. A designated “Pure Michigan Trail Town” with numerous parks, a superb school system, active recreation department, providing professional public safety (police, fire and EMS) and other various amenities offered to the residents.
For more information please contact:
Dean Creech, City Administrator
734-675-6500
dcreech@trenton-mi.com
Original source can be found here.
