City of Fall River launches new cardboard recycling pilot program

(FALL RIVER, MA- JUNE 1, 2023)- The City of Fall River Department of Community Maintenance is launching a pilot program that will test the effectiveness of new cardboard recycling carts. The new recycling carts are blue with brown lids to indicate that only cardboard should be placed inside. The new recycling carts with brown lids are for cardboard only, and other recycling items should continue to be placed in the blue recycling bins that have black lids.

It is important to note that this is a pilot program so not all residents of Fall River will initially receive the new cardboard recycling cart. On May 30th, the pilot program began with 400 of the new cardboard carts beginning to be distributed. Out of the 400 carts, 200 units will be administered to properties in the South along Stafford Rd. in the Spencer Dickinson’s area and 200 units will be administered to properties in the North along Meridian St. in the Columbus Drive area. Each resident that receives a cardboard recycling cart, will also receive an informational packet with detailed instructions and resources.

There is a new recycling schedule for residents that receive the new cardboard carts. On “A” weeks, residents who receive the new cardboard cart are to put only the new cart with a brown lid out for pick up. On “B” weeks, they are to put out only their regular recycling bins with blue lids. The first “A” week will begin on Monday, June 5th, 2023. The regular recycling cart and the new cardboard cart should not be placed out together for pick up. If a resident has overflow of recycling, they can drop it off at the DPW yard on 10 Lewiston St.

This pilot program will run until December of 2023 and its progress will be continuously monitored which will determine if more units of the carts will be administered as the program continues. If you have any further questions, call 508-324-2585 or 508-324-3584 at the DCM office.