Rewarding those who recycle.

Rewarding those who recycle. 

#LudingtonNews.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

LUDINGTON — Random residents of the city are being rewarded for being good stewards to the environment, and participating in the city’s recycling program. The city, along with Republic Services, its contracted solid waste and recycling service, is conducting Bin It to Win It, where random households are rewarded a gift certificate for recycling. Today, Matt Biolette, Republic Services’ municipal services manager, drove around parts of the city today giving out gift certificates from local businesses.

Biolette said the campaign is a way to raise awareness of some changes to the city’s refuse and recycling program.

Biolette said the city’s recycling program isn’t changing but residents need to be aware of changes in bulk item collection.

Beginning January 1, 2018, the city will change its bulk collection from a once-a-year massive collection in the spring to having residents place up to two bulk items out on the first refuse collection day of the month. As an alternative, residents can place an additional six garbage bags at the curb that day.

Biolette said residents who recycle should keep in mind “empty, clean, and dry, and to follow the list of acceptable items from the city.

“Residents sometimes believes things are recyclable and they might be somewhere but just not through the city’s curbside collection,” he said. Electronics, such as TVs, toasters, and phones, are examples of items that are recyclable but not through the city’s program. See more details at the city’s website.

As part of the Bin It to Win It program, residents received a gift certificate donated by local businesses including Q Smokehouse, Ludington Paint & Glass, Downtown Ludington, and Sportsman’s Restaurant.