Midlanders are going green. Well, they're trying to.
As residents work to rid their homes of the Christmas boxes, recycling containers are filled to the brim. For some, they have kept mounds of paper and cardboard in the car while, for others, it has resulted in illegal dumping because they left it on the pavement next to the bins.
"People are doing so much recycling, it seems like we're not doing as much pick up, but it's really just that there's more recycling," said Morris Williams, the city's director of Solid Waste.
Williams said while some of the uptick is because of cardboard, plastic and other recyclables generated through holiday activity, he also has noticed an increase in recycled goods during the past few months.
While the city would like to increase the frequency of pickups, it hasn't been possible because the city has hired only a limited on the number of truck drivers, he said. The oil boom has made it difficult to hire qualified drivers.
"We haven't had the staff to increase it," Williams said. "Some of it is holidays. Really, citizens are just doing a better job recycling."
A truck designated for recyclables is scheduled to pick up items at Midland's various public recycling bins three times each week, Williams said.
If the Solid Waste Department has too few drivers on a given day, recycling collection can be delayed from its original schedule, he said, adding the city wants trash collection to be the top priority.
"With the situation of not having a driver, we're almost having to choose trash or recycle. You don't want Thanksgiving dinner sitting in your alley for a week because we're picking up recycling," he said.
Stephanie McClure, assistant to the executive director at Keep Midland Beautiful, said while the bins located at H-E-B, Wal-Mart near Interstate 20 and other locations are filling up fast, those aren't the only options for residents wanting to recycle.
This year, the city opened a Citizens Collection Station on Smith Road, just off Veterans Airpark Lane. The collection station is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Recycling bins are emptied whenever they become full.
At lunchtime Wednesday, the station saw little traffic while recycling bins in other parts of town were busy with Midlanders trying to get rid of their cardboard, paper, plastic and aluminum.
"I've been carrying this around for more than a week because all the bins were full," said Mary Johnson, who dropped off recycling Wednesday morning near the Albertsons on Andrews Highway.
Johnson recently moved from Colorado and said she was surprised there wasn't a curbside recycling system in place.
The city has not instituted any recycling pickup at homes and likely won't in the near future, Williams said.
But, one private business is working to provide the service.
For $20 to $30 per month, Green Daisies will pick up recycling at residences. The company provides bags that can be filled with unsorted recyclables, owner Michelle Bermes said. The bags then are picked up and taken to Butts Recycling.
"We did have a spike of people sign up here in December," she said. "I think it's because of that, because the containers are expected to be full."
Williams said residents can take their items directly to Butts Recycling at 26. W. Industrial Loop.
He said the city is doing some "major brainstorming" to address the overflowing bins but will continue doing its best to keep them empty for now.
"We emptied some just yesterday and already they're back full," Williams said.
Those caught leaving recyclables on the ground next to a bin can be cited for illegal dumping, which carries fines up to $500. elementary schools where you can recycle cardboard, paper and aluminum.
