Show All Answers

1. Do you have a recycling program?

As of June 1st, 2015, The City of Emporia offers the convenience of residential curbside, single-stream (also known as single-sort) recycling to all single-family and multi-family units of four or less. Households will have one polycart for trash and a polycart with a green lid for recyclables. Recyclables are picked up every other week on the resident’s usual trash collection day.

2. What do you mean by single-stream recycling?

Single-stream recycling means no sorting of recyclables. All permitted recyclable materials including paper, cardboard, glass, metals, and plastics may be placed together in the polycart with the green lid. Recyclables are picked up and transported to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where they are sorted, processed and sold for reuse.

3. How much will this recycling service cost me?

There is no additional charge for the recycling cart or the collection. This service is provided by the city as part of your existing trash service.

4. Why does the City provide this curbside recycling service?

The City's goals are to increase the diversion rate of solid waste, thereby reducing the amount of solid waste being landfilled, and improve quality of life by adding a new service for residents. Recycling is good for the environment and saves our natural resources. Curbside recycling is easy, convenient, and has many benefits to our citizens and generations to come.

In the last few years, large recycling sorting and recovery facilities (known as MRFs) have been built in our region, providing the resources needed to implement a curbside recycling program.

Recycling is no longer something that is nice to do; it is our personal and corporate responsibility to make our community more efficient and sustainable.

5. I live in an apartment. What are my recycling options?

Apartments of more than four units and residents outside the city limits are not currently eligible for the city's curbside recycling program but may continue to use the drop centers at the Recycling Center located at 3100 West South Avenue. The building is located on the Transfer Station grounds approximately 3/4 miles west of Prairie Street on South Avenue. Hours at the Recycling Center are 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday, and Sunday, 1 to 5 pm. A recycling trailer is located at Dillon's from Thursday noon to Saturday 10 am. Recycling trailers are also located in surrounding communities on a rotating basis (see trailer schedule). Recyclables will no longer have to be sorted any location.