Frequently Asked Questions
Questions
Recycling
- Can I recycle magazines and telephone books in the curbside recycling program at my home?
- Can I use plastic grocery/retail bags to bundle or sack newspaper, paperboard, and junk mail?
- Can I recycle large amounts of brown paper bags.
- Are all plastics recyclable in our community?
- Can I use another bin or do I have to use the City of Fayetteville recycling bins?
- What if one recycling bin is not enough?
- I can't remember...what items are recycled in Fayetteville?
- I've got ink jet cartridges and rechargable batteries, what do I do with them?
Answers
Recycling
- Can I recycle magazines and telephone books in the curbside recycling program at my home?
- Yes. The materials may be included in with your mixed paper, which we would like for you to keep separate from your newspaper. If you have large amounts of paper, we ask that you bring the materials to the Community Recycling Drop-Off Site located on Happy Hollow Road.
- Can I use plastic grocery/retail bags to bundle or sack newspaper, paperboard, and junk mail?
- No. These bags are currently only recyclable at the stores from where they originated. We ask that you place your newspaper, junk mail, and paperboard in separate paper grocery bags, which are recyclable in our program.
- Can I recycle large amounts of brown paper bags.
- Yes, although the curbside collection program does not want high volumes of paper at each stop our drop off program can easily handle these large volumes. Also Marvin's IGA and Harp's offer a 5 cent reduction on your grocery bill if you bring back and use the brown paper bags that each store gave out.
- Are all plastics recyclable in our community?
- No. We only recycle #1 and #2 bottles in our program. The number you see on the bottom of any plastic container only indicates its plastic resin code. There are two processes for forming plastic containers - blow molding and injection molding. In a blow molding process the plastic is blown into a particular shape, like a bottle, whereas in the injection mold the plastic resin is injected into a mold that forms a particular shape, like a butter tub. The resins from a milk jug and a butter tub might be the same but the different processes use different chemicals that require different temperatures to melt the resins and therefore must be separated when recycled. Because we have no regional market for the injection molded plastics, the City of Fayetteville can only accept #1 and #2 blow molded plastics whose neck is smaller than the base of the bottle.
- Can I use another bin or do I have to use the City of Fayetteville recycling bins?
- Because the recycling trucks that collect your curbside recycling are specially designed for the size of the City recycling bins, we ask that you please use our bins. These bins are made out of 50% post-consumer recycled plastic!
- What if one recycling bin is not enough?
- Some residents do use a second bin especially for their paper recycling. Additional bins are available by calling our Solid Waste and Recycling Office at 575-8398. The cost of a second bin is $7.50 and can be picked up at the Solid Waste and Recycling Office.
- I can't remember...what items are recycled in Fayetteville?
- We recycle newspaper, mixed paper (junk mail, magazines, phone books, copy paper, etc.), paperboard (cereal boxes), cardboard, plastic bottles coded #1 and #2, aluminum cans, steel cans; brown, green, and clear glass containers.
- I've got ink jet cartridges and rechargable batteries, what do I do with them?
- Bring them to us! We recycle ink jets and rechargable batteries at the Solid Waste and Recycling Facility for no charge. We are located at 1560 Happy Hollow Road in southeast Fayetteville and are open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. Please take regular batteries to the Washington County Household Hazardous Waste trailer on Brink Drive. Their phone number is (479) 444-1725.
Questions
Solid Waste
- What do you mean by Fayetteville having a Pay As You Throw Trash program?
- What do I do if I've got more trash than can fit into my cart on collection day?
- Can I place loose trash in my cart?
- Does it matter how the cart is set out for collection?
- What are the procedures for setting and retrieving my cart?
- What do I do if my cart is stolen or damaged?
Answers
Solid Waste
- What do you mean by Fayetteville having a Pay As You Throw Trash program?
- Fayetteville's Pay As You Throw residential trash program means just that, the more trash you throw out on a weekly basis the more money it will cost you. Each residence has a choice of three sizes for their trash cart; 32, 64, and 96 gallon sizes are available. Each size has a different rate assigned to it, for example, the 32 gallon cart is $8.75 per month, the 64 gallon cart is $13.35 per month, and the 96 gallon cart is $18.96 per month. It is important to know that each residence should get the size cart that is designed to handle the weekly volumes of trash from that household. The 32 gallon is for 1 bag of trash or less, the 64 is for up to 2 bags of trash, and the 96 gallon is for up to three bags of trash. Overfilling carts is not recommended and will cost $6 for each extra bag visible above the lip of the cart. PLEASE MAKE SURE THE CART LID IS CLOSED COMPLETELY TO AVOID A $6 PER EACH EXTRA BAG CHARGE. The PAYT program is highly recommended by the EPA as a means to reduce waste and provide a fairer system for those who reduce and recycle. Anybody can reduce the waste they produce by fully using the recycling program and avoiding wasteful practices. You can make a difference!
- What do I do if I've got more trash than can fit into my cart on collection day?
- There are extra trash stickers available from the Solid Waste and Recycling office for $6 a sticker. Place one sticker on your bag (bag no larger than 35 gallons and weighing no more than 50 lbs) and place next to your trash cart allowing space for the automated arm to pick up the cart. Each residence receives four (4) free stickers each year for extra trash occasions. Stickers are not transferable from year to year. Bags set out beside the cart, or placed above the rim of the cart, without a sticker will have a $6 charge added to the account.
- Can I place loose trash in my cart?
- It is highly suggested to bag all trash before placing into your cart. Loose trash has the potential to blow out of the cart while dumping and can cause litter problems. Bagging trash will also reduce the odor of your cart.
- Does it matter how the cart is set out for collection?
- Yes. Please place the cart with the handle away from the street and at least 6 feet from any obstruction such as a mailbox or utility pole. Please do not park in front of the cart.
- What are the procedures for setting and retrieving my cart?
- All carts, recycling and yardwaste should be placed out on designated collection days by 6am. By City Ordinance do not place carts out earlier than 12 hours before collection day and always remove your cart no later than 12 hours after collection has occurred. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CART AT THE CURB ALL WEEK.
- What do I do if my cart is stolen or damaged?
- If your cart is stolen, call the Police Department first and report the theft, then bring a copy of the Police report to the Solid Waste and Recycling Division for replacement. If your cart is damaged please call the Solid Waste and Recycling Office at (479) 575-8398 to schedule a repair or replacement.
Questions
Yard Waste
- How do I participate in the Yardwaste program?
- What if I have too much yard waste to fit into bags or cans?
- Can we use plastic trash bags for leaves and grass?
- During Halloween I have pumpkins and hay to dispose of, how do I get rid of them?
- During the fall and summer months, I will have more than my usual amount of yard waste. Will they still pick it up?
Answers
Yard Waste
- How do I participate in the Yardwaste program?
- Yardwaste collection occurs weekly on the same day that your trash and recycling are collected. Leaves, grass and small amounts of brush are collected with this service. Leaves and grass should be either placed in 30 gallon paper bags available at most retail outlets in Fayetteville or placed in a old trash can clearly marked yardwaste and placed curbside. Remember to leave plenty of room for the automated cart collection. Do not line your can with plastic bags.
- What if I have too much yard waste to fit into bags or cans?
- When you have large amounts of brush and/or limbs, you need to arrange for a bulky waste pick-up. Large amounts of brush and limbs for bulky collection need to be placed within 6ft. of your curb and cannot exceed 3 feet in length or 5 inches in diameter. To arrange for a bulky waste pickup, please call the Solid Waste and Recycling Office at (479) 575-8398. Fayetteville residents can always bring yardwaste to the Compost Facility located at 1708 S. Armstrong on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8am to 3pm and the first Saturday of each month from 8am to noon from November thru March and the first two Saturdays of each month from April to October.
- Can we use plastic trash bags for leaves and grass?
- No. City ordinance states that yardwaste can only be collected in paper bags or reuseable cans. Plastic bags have been removed from the yard waste program. We ask that anyone using this program use compostable paper yard waste bags or a trash can marked with the words "YARD WASTE". Tree limbs and brush still have to be bundled separate from the leaves and glass.
- During Halloween I have pumpkins and hay to dispose of, how do I get rid of them?
- Pumpkins need to be placed in the trash, they are considered to be food waste. Hay bales can be brought to the Compost Facility, we will not pick them up with your regular yard waste service.
- During the fall and summer months, I will have more than my usual amount of yard waste. Will they still pick it up?
- Yes. The yard waste truck will come by on you regular trash day and take the material that you have out. All material must be placed to the curbside no later than 6 a.m. on you service day.