The city of Laurel launched its new One and Done program, a program that allows for recycling, trash and compost collection to be done once weekly. With this new program, all households will receive a new blue cart for recycling and a black cart for trash. The new carts roll easily to the curb, provide large capacity for materials and the attached lids help keep contents from blowing away, officials said at a news conference. “As the city works to improve our sustainable practices, the One and Done Program will assist in continuing to protect our environment, reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and enhance the efficiency of our trash, recycling, and composting collections,” Laurel Mayor Craig A. Moe said.
To improve the recycling program for residents, the city of Laurel applied for and received a $112,000 grant from The Recycling Partnership, the nonprofit that helps communities achieve economically efficient recycling programs. The grant will help defray the cost of the 13,000 carts the city purchased and provided funds to develop resident education and outreach materials about the new collection process.
The Recycling Partnership estimates the new recycling carts will enable the collection of more than 732,000 pounds of valuable recyclables that can then be transformed into new products and packaging. Rehrig Pacific, the cart supplier, uses post-consumer recycled plastic and recycled ocean-bound plastic found in and near lakes, beaches and waterways to manufacture the carts. The amount of recycled plastic material used is the equivalent of more than 240,000 empty 1-gallon milk jugs.