Brooksville going green with curbside recycling

Going green in Brooksville will require some blue.

Beginning Sept. 2, residents will have curbside service to pick up their recyclables for the first time. The voluntary program is made possible through a public/private partnership with Wal-Mart, which is providing blue bags for participants to store their cans and newspapers.

City leaders announced the initiative at noon on Wednesday, hailing its "far-reaching impacts."

"Even the most meager efforts will have long term effects," said Mayor Joe Bernadini.

Bernadini was referring in part to the city's ongoing "green" effort to limit Brooksville's environmental impact. Recycling bins are found in all the break rooms now and replacing 475 light bulbs with more efficient alternatives has reduced energy costs by 35 percent, according to Vice Mayor Lara Bradburn.

This latest initiative aims to bring that attitude outside City Hall. Currently, residents have to cart their recyclables to special dumping sites around the city.

Beginning Sept. 2, city sanitation workers will pick up certain recyclables every Wednesday of the month. On the first Wednesday is plastic, aluminum and tin; the second, newspapers; the third, cardboard.

Before that starts, residents can request the blue bags by filling out a form and including it with their regular utilities payment. Bags will be dropped off at their home. They can also be found at City Hall or the department of public works.

The department of public works will absorb this new undertaking into its ongoing restructuring. No additional costs are expected because the city already has the trucks and personnel in place to handle the pickup, Bradburn said.

She added that Wal-Mart's commitment to providing bags is indefinite.

Toby Gray, manager of the Wal-Mart distribution center in Ridge Manor, said the partnership met the corporation's goal of zero waste and investing in the community.

"It's the perfect marriage," he said.