INDIAN RIVER SHORES — Increased recycling by residents of Indian River Shores has led town officials to design a new pickup plan that will go into effect on Oct. 1.
The Town has had twice-weekly garbage pickup but recycling pickup only every other week. But earlier this year, the variety of items that could be put into recycling bins was expanded dramatically. “There’s been an increase in recycling over the past six months by 50 percent,” Town Manager Richard Jefferson said at a recent Town Council meeting.
As a result, Jefferson told the council many residents have requested weekly pickup as it becomes unwieldy to keep filled recycling bins around for two weeks.
To accommodate the changing needs of the town without increasing the cost of waste pickup services paid to Treasure Coast Refuse, the town struck a deal for a trial during which trash pickup will be reduced to once per week and recycling pickup will be increased to once a week.
Recycling for all single-family homes will be every Tuesday beginning Oct. 1. Garbage pickup will be split between Tuesdays and Fridays for different parts of Indian River Shores.
John’s Island, Bermuda Bay and The Estuary will have garbage pickup on Tuesdays only. The rest of the town will have pickup on Fridays only.
Commercial customers and condominiums will not be affected by this change, only single-family homes.
Town Clerk Laura Aldrich said she was told by Treasure Coast Refuse to remind residents that both the trash and the recyclables must be visible from the street for the collection workers to come up the driveway to provide the door-front pickup.
Town officials are hoping the change will not cause too much confusion and that the trial will provide data that can be used in crafting an appropriate franchise agreement with Treasure Coast Refuse.
For those residents who currently do not participate in the recycling program or who need a replacement bin, recycling bins are available on request at the Indian River Shores Public Safety Department.