Residents set the stuff at the curb along with the rest of their trash. The garbage goes to the landfill, while the recyclables go to Civic Recycling, a private company, for sorting. There are some limitations. Only green, brown and clear glass are acceptable. Junk mail, office paper and motor oil containers will not be accepted.
Convenience is key to the success of the blue bags.
Along with the roughly 25,000 refuse customers who got to join the program in April 1999, some apartment residents this year are testing a similar convenience. Once a week, the city places bins at 11 apartment complexes to collect all the residents recyclables, whether glass, metal, plastic, paper or cardboard. The bins are similar to those available at several grocery stores in town, solid waste manager Richard Weiman said. The pilot blue-bag program, which is funded by a grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, will continue at least through October. Though recycling has become easier, Columbians are paying for the convenience.