Garbage and Recycling Tips for Severe Weather

City Asks Residents to Avoid Taking Recycling Bins to the Curb

El Paso, Texas – The City of El Paso Environmental Services Department is asking residents to help do their share to reduce wind-blown debris during this winter storm.

The winter weather in the region is expected to bring with it strong winds with gusts reaching 45 mph. To help reduce wind-blown debris, residents should avoid taking theirrecycling bins out to the curb, if the bins are not full.

The Environmental Services recommends that residents wait until their next regularly scheduled pick-up day to place their recycling bins out for collection. Materials placed inside the blue recycling bins are not bagged, which makes it easy for them to scatter all over the street if strong winds tip over the bins.

Household garbage should always be taken to the curb on your collection day. Trash placed in the gray bins is not as likely to blow away on windy days if knocked out of the container because the GARBAGE SHOULD ALWAYS BE BAGGED. 

Here are some more garbage and recycling tips for severe weather:

·        If possible, on windy days keep garbage and recycling bins secure until pick-up;

·        Mark your address on your bins. This can help if you have to locate your bins should they get blown away;

·        Haul your trash and recycling bins away from the curb as soon as they are emptied to keep them from being blown onto the roadways;

·        If streets have snow or ice, homes on steep grades or located on the mountain will have their garbage collected later in the day. This is done for the safety of City employees and the public.

For more information about trash and recycling services during severe weather the public may call (915) 621-6700.