uploaded to flickr.com by scott*eric
Supersize Me. Last week many of us were left holding our trash and recycling due to the tragedy at the Department of Sanitation facility on W Street NE. Those with trash pick-up once a week had our collections skipped because of in incident at the facility in combination with the Columbus Day holiday. Fortunately cooler temperatures kept the smells to a minimum, but we got to watch how we and our neighbors accumulate disposable goods.
For those with a once-a-week trash and recycling collection, each household is provided a large green “Supercan” for trash and a smaller blue “min-Supercan” for recycling. Perhaps the sizing adheres to trash traditions, but skipping a week of trash collection illustrated an interesting trend among my neighbors: we all are putting out more recycling than trash. Yes, the green can is bigger, but within a two block radius of my home (my unscientific polling based on dog-walking routines) not one green can was overflowing this past Monday night. The blue cans, though, were brimming with plastics and paper, and most were supplemented with cardboard boxes filled with more metal, plastic and glass. Perhaps the city government should pay attention to this trend and “supersize” our recycling cans. The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) website does say residents can obtain an additional recycling container by calling the citywide call center at 311, but it does not state if there is a fee for it (Additional Supercans can be purchased for $62.50; the website states the 32-gallon can is free but doesn’t stipulate if that is for smaller trash cans, recycling cans, or both).
DC Green Festival. The DC Green Festival rolls into town again this coming weekend, October 23 and 24, at the Convention Center. For two days guests can hear speakers talk about ecology programs and visit hundred of national, regional, and local exhibitors. Where else can you learn about organic coffee, wind energy, sustainably-farmed dog treats, green cleaning products and holistic treatments all at one time?
Admission for one day is $15 and $25 for the whole weekend, though with each paid admission you receive “green bucks” that can be used to purchase goods from any exhibitor. There appear to still be opportunities to volunteer for the festival as well, which will get you in for free. Bring a cell phone to recycle and your entrance is also gratis. Kids also get in for free; live music and a kids’ zone should keep them entertained.
the mini-supercans are free! We had to get both recycle and trash ones when we moved in (we’re on the twice a week schedule). It took them forever to get them to us (over a month!), but there was no charge.
Rebekah thanks for confirming that! The DPW website isn’t crystal clear.
Yep, I have 2 of the blue recycling cans. I used the online service request to get my 2nd can. No fee, no problems. They just left it at my house for me the same week i requested it. totally easy, simple and awesome. There’s no limit to the number of blue recycle cans one house can have, so if you need 3 – ask for 3. I have once a week trash pick up and usually have both of my blue cans full.
I live over in Logan Circle, and most residents have the very small green recycling containers. I went on DC Govt’s website and requested a second one for my home, and low and behold about a month later, I came home to find a nice new green recycling container sitting on my doorstep, no additional fee. Definitely helps us recycle instead of throwing everything in the trash.
I tried requesting a mini-supercan, and they refused to give me one. I think it’s because I’m in a once-a-week pick-up, regular supercan zone.
But it just seems silly to have a giant can when all I put in is a single grocery bag of trash each week, which they never actually reach in for, so the bags pile there til someone on the rota puts the can on the truck. It’s really gross. Plus the giant can takes up way too much room in my garage. I’m thinking about buying gallon trash bags, filling one up in the garage for a month, and putting the supercan out once a month…but it will still make the garage stink…can’t decide.
Anyway, I called 311 about the extra recycle can and had it within three days.
I live in the suburbs (hoping to move to the Hill soon!) and we have to supply our own trash cans and recycling bins. And if you put a halfway decent trash can out on the curb it will be gone when you get home. We’re the only people on the block with a recycling bin, and no one has tried to steal it yet!
Yeah, what is it with the tiny recycling bins around here? In NJ they’re enormous!