Single Stream Recycling carts too big for many households

Single Stream Recycling ... user friendly?

Most Manatee County residents by now have learned that Single Stream Recycling is starting this summer. The new program allows you to combine all recycling materials into one cart. The carts are free and will be distributed beginning in July.

What most residents don't know is that the carts are 64 gallons. For a large family, that might be fine. But for a single person or two-person household, it is completely overkill.

Many communities, like our community, require carts to be kept out of sight. So, most residents store them in their garages. Carts this large are a waste of valuable garage storage space.

In some communities, such as where we previously lived in New Jersey, residents had the option of using small, medium or large carts. But not here.

One person I talked to at the county office went so far as to say that I should consider only taking out the recycling once a month. No thanks!

Although I rinse our recyclables, I don't want that smell in my garage. And I'm not planning on running my recyclables through the dishwasher.

It's unfortunate that the needs of smaller households aren't being considered. This is not a user friendly program due to the lack of cart size choices.

David Panner

Parrish

This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Single Stream Recycling carts too big for many households ."