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Correct Placement of Trash and Recycling Containers

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January 9, 2004

Below are photos of two acceptable methods of trash and recycling container placement. You may click on the photos for a larger view.

Over the past couple of months, it has been realized that more and more Saco citizens are crowding their trash and recycling containers too closely together on pick-up day. The current method of pick-up for the green trash container is performed by a truck with an automatic arm controlled by the driver of the truck. This system reduces labor costs and has proven to be much more efficient than previous methods. However, the green trash container must have 1.5 to 2 feet of clearance on each side to allow the automatic arm room to pick the container up. If the operator of the truck has to continually get out and reposition the cans for pick-up, the efficiency of our system decreases drastically.

The brown and blue recycling containers do not require the same clearance as the green trash container because the pick-up procedure is semi-automated. The semi-automated system consists of one driver and one worker who is responsible for hooking the recycling bins to the truck, and ensuring that the correct materials are in the correct container.

The Saco Public Works department understands that the crowding of trash containers may be related to decreased space due to snow banks and other obstructions that can be caused by inclement winter weather. If winter weather leaves little space for your recycling and trash containers to be lined up next to one another, it is perfectly acceptable to place the green trash container in front of the recycling cans. Although we do not wish to cause increased hardship for our citizens, we do ask for your help in ensuring that our waste management system continues to operate smoothly by allowing sufficient pick-up clearance for the green trash container. Thanks, and keep recycling!

If you have ideas about how to make less waste, please send them to Sarah Wojcoski or Doug Howard at the City of Saco's Solid Waste Department. Be sure to let us know if we have your permission to include your name if your idea or letter is reprinted in the column. As always, thank you for your interest and commitment to recycling.