Zero Waste AVL is the City’s new waste reduction program. Here are some quick facts about the program and the materials that will be collected:
Quick Facts
Recent changes in city recycling practices make it easier for residents to recycle more.
- Larger, 95 gallon roll-cart
- More materials now accepted, including additional plastics, gable top and aseptic containers
- No sorting: all recyclables can go in a single container
Citywide program implementation begins Spring 2012 and includes all city residents that currently have curbside recycling collection.
What is Recyclable?
New materials that are now recyclable: All No. 1 through No. 7 plastic bottles, jugs and containers (e.g., yogurt containers). Not accepted: No. 6 plastic PS or black plastic microwavable. Other materials include: gable-topped containers (e.g., juice and milk cartons) and aseptic containers (e.g., juice boxes and soy milk containers).
Curbside Management still collects the following materials:
- Aluminum pie plates and trays
- Aluminum, tin and steel cans
- Plastic bottles
- Empty aerosol cans
- Mixed glass containers
- Mixed paper (including brown paper bags, catalogues, construction paper, junk mail, office paper, paper back books, Post-it notes, shredded paper, magazines, manila folders and envelopes, wrapping paper, newspaper and paper envelopes with plastic windows)
- Soda and beer cartons
- Egg cartons
- Toilet paper and paper towel rolls
- Box board (e.g., cereal boxes, pasta boxes and frozen vegetable containers)
- Corrugated cardboard.
The following materials cannot be recycled:
- Aluminum foil
- Dog food bags
- Paint cans
- Plastic bags (most local grocery stores recycle these)
- Antifreeze, motor oil or pesticide bottles
- Styrofoam
- Plastic wrap
- Dishes or cookware
- Drinking glasses or mugs
- Light bulbs
- Window or mirror glass
- Plant trays or pots
- Plastic furniture and toys
- Hardcover books
- Paper contaminated by food
- Paper towels, tissue or napkins
- Photographs
- Waxed paper
- Carbon copy paper
- Black microwavable trays
Resources
City of Asheville Sanitation Services
Wendy Simmons, solid waste manager
Public Works Building, 161 S. Charlotte St.
P. O. Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802
259-5857, or email:wsimmons@ashevillenc.gov
Asheville Sanitation Department’s website is the most up-to-date listing of the sanitation services offered by the city: https://avl.mx/7a or 259-5857.
Curbside Management provides additional recycling info: HERE 252-2532.
Construction Debris and Hazardous Material Disposal: Buncombe County Solid Waste 250-5462
Duncan McPherson, AIA, LEED AP is a co-founder of the WNC Green Building Council and principal at Samsel Architects. He can be reached at duncan@samselarchitects.com or 253-1124.