Recycling is picked up in my neighborhood once a week. A couple of years ago, the city notified us that they would begin collecting cardboard with the recycling, rather than the trash, as long as it was folded up to certain dimensions. As the environment is important to me, I was pleased that my cardboard would no longer go to the local landfill.
However, for more than 6 months the recycle truck consistently left my cardboard for the trash guys to pick up. While I was aware of the situation for many months, I did nothing about it. Today I realized I had an Inconvenience Yourself opportunity right in front of me, and I was ignoring it. First I called the city to make sure the cardboard should be collected for recycling. I specifically asked about pizza boxes as well as other small boxes which meet the dimension requirements. Was told no on the pizza boxes, but yes on the others. The city provided me the phone number for Waste Management and suggested I call, but they would also contact them.
I made the call to Waste Management. They were quite nice and offered to have the truck come back to pick up the cardboard. I declined as my concern is for the environment and it didn't make sense to have a truck come back. (Instead I pulled the cardboard from the curb and it will go out next week.) They also told me the Recycling Route Manager would get in touch with me in 24-48 hours. I was able to confirm that pizza boxes can be recycled.
Many good things after that:
- The Recycling Route Manager got back to me within 20 minutes - he is on his way to my house right now to see what they didn't take. Sounds like he will get the problem straightened out. Kudos to Waste Management for their friendly and courteous customer service on the phone & quick response from the Recycling Route Manager.
- I called the city back to let them know of my conversation, and to make sure they knew that pizza boxes can be recycled.
- I suggested that the city include a reminder of the cardboard recycling opportunity and requirements in their next newsletter. Sounds like they will be doing it. Hopefully it will result in more recycling and less waste going to the landfill.
