Do you have a plastic bottle or aluminum can to recycle as you walk or ride along a local trail? Now you can! Twenty blue bins are popping up across town and even along some of the Las Cruces walking trails, placed next to regular trash bins. Their appearance is thanks to a joint effort of the City of Las Cruces Sustainability Section, Parks and Recreation Department, Keep Las Cruces Beautiful initiative, along with the Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) Solid Waste Section.
The bins were awarded by the Coca-Cola Public Space Recycling Bin Grant to the City of Las Cruces. As the bins arrived, they were first mounted with specially fabricated installation hardware designed by LCU Solid Waste staff. Then, Parks and Recreation placed the bins in strategic spots throughout the city.
“This grant demonstrates the City’s commitment to community recycling, by providing permanent recycling bins adjacent to trash bins at high use areas and multi-use trails,” explains Robin Lawrence, LCU Solid Waste administrator. “With the new blue bins placed next to the existing trash bins, it limits additional maintenance and provides residents with an easy way to recycle right.”
Citizens will see the bins in places like Young Park, Apodaca Park, Veteran’s Park, and along some of the walking trails. Now walkers and runners will be able to easily dispose of their recyclable water bottles during their trip instead of carrying them home.
A survey by city maintenance staff estimated that over half of the garbage thrown in the well-used trash bins could actually have been recycled. With the grant, citizens of Las Cruces will have an easier way to access recycling when they are out and about.
The 32-gallon blue bins are quick to spot, with the Keep America Beautiful logo, and a round opening reminding citizens that only bottles and cans are allowed for recycling at that location. Weekly pickups will support a continued effort of keeping Las Cruces citizens recycling right and Keeping Las Cruces Beautiful.
Submitted by Las Cruces Utilities
You can reach Las Cruces Utilities at 528-3500 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Las Cruces Utilities provides GAS – WATER – WASTEWATER – SOLID WASTE services to approximately 100,000 Las Cruces residents and businesses.