Residents whose regular service falls on those days should place their carts and other eligible materials at the curb by 6 a.m. on collection day or put them out the evening before. The city says regular collection weekdays will not change.

What residents should do

The earlier start applies to the city’s scheduled residential waste and recycling operations. Residents should have their carts, yard waste and scheduled bulky items ready before the revised deadline.

Putting materials out the prior evening is the simplest way to avoid missing a collection that begins earlier than usual. The temporary change affects the collection start time and curbside setout deadline, not the assigned collection day.

Why the schedule is changing

Virginia Beach Public Works Waste Management said the earlier start is intended to help crews get ahead of the day’s temperatures. The city said maintaining the 6 a.m. start throughout the four-day period also gives residents a consistent setout time.

Extension of the earlier adjustment

The Aug. 18-21 schedule follows an earlier city adjustment covering Aug. 11-14. That notice also moved residential waste and recycling collection to a 6 a.m. start while keeping regular collection days unchanged.

Virginia Beach Public Works says its curbside services include weekly trash collection, every-other-week recycling collection, weekly yard-debris collection and scheduled pickup for large or bulky items. Residents can check the city’s current curbside rules and service information through the Public Works Waste Management pages.

For Tuesday-through-Friday service next week, the key deadline is 6 a.m. on the scheduled day—or the evening before. The temporary early-start schedule is limited to Aug. 18-21 unless the city issues another notice.

Sources

• Waste Management Extends ‘Beat the Heat’ Collection Schedule
• Curbside Services

The village’s listing does not identify the meeting’s agenda, proposed votes or specific decisions. The notice establishes the date, time and location, but does not show that the board has approved a new project, policy or service change.

Gridley’s website identifies several continuing areas of municipal activity. The village maintains three parks, a swimming pool, walking paths, courts and a baseball diamond. It also created a tax-increment-financing district in 2011 to promote business and growth.

The site lists 2026 recycling information and dates for August farmers markets alongside its other village information. Those services and facilities provide current points of contact for residents as officials continue managing local operations and development-related work.

The next known step is the Aug. 3 board meeting at Village Hall. Any agenda, discussion or action publicly announced at that meeting would provide the next update on Gridley’s municipal business.

For residents, the immediate change is practical: households must use the new Frontier carts and follow the new collection schedule. Waste Management may continue collecting its carts during the transition, which the city says could take several weeks. However, Waste Management carts placed at the curb after Aug. 3 will not be emptied by Frontier.

What the new service includes

Universal City residents receive household-trash pickup twice a week and recycling pickup once a week. The service also includes weekly brush and bulk collection at the curb, subject to a four-cubic-yard limit.

Frontier began distributing new trash and recycling carts in July. The city’s contract requires new waste and recycling carts for residential units, making the cart exchange part of the citywide transition rather than an optional equipment change.

Residents are required to return their Waste Management carts. Because the old carts will not be emptied by Frontier after the service change, households should use the Frontier carts for collection once they receive them and follow the city’s instructions for returning the former provider’s equipment.

Contract and provider details

The city’s municipal solid-waste documents establish the initial contract period from Aug. 3, 2026, through July 31, 2031. The procurement and contract materials cover residential, commercial, construction and industrial waste and recycling services, but the city’s transition notice describes the new pickup frequencies in this article for residential service. The approved materials do not establish that commercial customers have the same collection schedule.

The city says Frontier was acquired by GFL Environmental. That acquisition does not change Universal City’s contract, according to the city’s residential service information.

The city’s materials do not state the final household billing rate or whether rates changed from Waste Management’s prior service. Residents with service questions can contact Frontier at 210-807-8555. City utility billing is listed at 210-619-0713.

The transition’s next known step is the continued collection and return of Waste Management carts while the changeover proceeds. The city has not stated that every new cart delivery is complete, and its notice says old-cart collection may take several weeks.

Currence took notes during the discussion and directed the concerns toward city staff, according to KY3 reporting. The immediate result was a record of issues residents wanted city officials to consider, not an announced change to city policy or a final decision on a project.

Residents raised service and growth questions

The topics covered both day-to-day city operations and longer-term questions about how Ozark is growing. Recycling was one subject residents brought forward, along with traffic and roads. New development was also discussed, putting growth-related concerns alongside questions about transportation and city services.

The August election came up during the conversation as well. The supplied report identifies the election as a subject residents asked about, but it does not provide ballot details, an election date, a result or a decision connected to the discussion.

That distinction matters for residents tracking possible changes in Ozark. A question raised at a public conversation is not the same as an adopted policy, approved development or funded road project. The report does not say that the city approved a new recycling program, authorized a specific road project or granted a development approval after the meeting.

What the meeting did — and did not — decide

The July 11 event functioned as a civic listening session. Currence’s role, as described in the report, was to hear the concerns, take notes and bring them to city staff. The meeting did not establish a final policy decision on recycling, roads, traffic or development.

The discussion therefore gives residents a public-accountability point for following up on issues that may shape future city decisions. It also provides city staff with the concerns gathered during the conversation, but the available reporting does not identify a specific staff recommendation or action that followed.

No response deadline was announced

The next known step is for city staff to receive and consider the concerns raised by residents. The source does not specify which proposals, if any, staff adopted, and it does not provide a deadline for a response.

For now, the July 11 conversation should be understood as an opportunity for Ozark residents to raise questions directly with their mayor. Any later road work, recycling change, development decision or election-related outcome would be a separate development from the listening session.

Five-year contract covers incorporated Universal City

The city selected Frontier through a competitive procurement process. The contract grants Frontier the exclusive right and duty, to the extent allowed by law, to collect and transport waste and recyclable materials from residential, commercial and industrial customers within Universal City’s incorporated limits.

The initial contract term runs from August 3, 2026, through July 31, 2031. By written agreement, the city and Frontier may add two additional two-year extension terms. The city’s request for proposals identified the same initial term and extension structure.

The City Council awarded the contract on March 17, according to Community Impact. A June 17 town hall was informational only: its official notice said no votes, decisions or other governmental actions would be taken at the meeting.

Residents should return Waste Management carts

Universal City says residents should continue using Waste Management carts until those carts are serviced and removed on their regular collection days. If trash and recycling are collected on different days, the old carts may be removed separately. Some households may briefly have both old and new carts at the curb during the transition.

Beginning August 3, Frontier will not empty Waste Management carts. Residents should use the Frontier-provided carts instead:

• Yellow lid: household trash
• Blue lid: recycling

The city has not stated that every cart exchange is complete as of August 5, so residents should follow the city’s transition instructions if an old cart remains scheduled for pickup.

Trash, recycling, brush and bulk schedules

Frontier’s service pattern includes household trash pickup twice each week, recycling pickup once each week, and brush and bulk pickup once each week. Brush and bulk collection is limited to four cubic yards per collection, which the city describes as approximately the size of a refrigerator.

Collection days may change under the new routes. Residents should enter their address in the city’s collection-day tool or use Frontier’s mobile app to check trash, recycling and bulk-and-brush schedules.

Set carts out by 7 a.m.

Universal City and Frontier instruct residents to place carts at the curb or a paved alley by 7 a.m. on collection day. The wheels should face the curb, with the handle facing the home, and carts should be at least three feet from vehicles, mailboxes, other carts and other obstructions. The city says trash must be bagged, tied and contained with the lid closed.

Recyclables should be clean, empty and loose rather than placed in plastic bags. The city’s accepted materials include aluminum beverage cans; plastic bottles numbered 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7; glass bottles and jars; steel and tin cans; paper; boxboard; and cardboard. Plastic bags, food waste, soiled paper, Styrofoam, yard waste and other listed prohibited items do not belong in the recycling cart.

Brush, hazardous waste and special items

Contractor-generated tree and landscaping debris is excluded from the city’s residential brush service. The contract also excludes brush resulting from commercial service providers, including paid tree-trimming and tree-removal companies.

For residential brush, the contract says limbs should be no longer than four feet and no more than four inches in diameter. The total weight of any stack, bag, bundle or container may not exceed 40 pounds. The city’s FAQ says no bundling is required, while Frontier’s service page says limbs must be bundled. Because the two instructions differ, residents should confirm the applicable preparation rule with Frontier before setting out brush.

Appliances containing freon, including refrigerators, require certified freon removal and an attached certification tag before collection.

Household hazardous waste must not go in either cart. Universal City’s current residential-waste page links residents to an online scheduling page for a pickup listed for August 10, 2026. Chemicals, paint, oils, corrosive or flammable materials and other hazardous items require the city’s designated handling process. Electronics and sharps may also require special handling.

Where residents can report problems

Frontier handles missed service and damaged-cart reports at 210-807-8555. Universal City directs residents with billing questions and requests for extra carts to its utility-billing department at 210-619-0713. The city says any additional-cart fee and taxes are added to the monthly utility bill; this article does not assume that the base residential rate changed.

With the new contract only two days into its initial service period, cart-exchange completion, route performance and the conflicting brush-bundling instructions remain matters for residents and the city to monitor.

Sources

• Universal City Residential Waste Services and FAQ
• Frontier Waste Solutions Universal City service page
• Community Impact report on the contract award

The project is funded through a $33,319 reimbursable award from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ 2025 Non-Playground Scrap Tire Surface Material Grant Program. Richmond’s approved project requires no city match, so the grant covers the approved project costs without a required local matching contribution.

Four parks named in the grant

Richmond City Council approved the financial assistance agreement in October 2025 through Bill No. 25-31, identified in the ordinance as an ordinance approving the agreement. The municipal record identifies the project as TNP250016 and names Maurice Roberts Park, Ilamann Park, Charles Armour Park and Southview Park as the locations for the amenities.

The ordinance uses the name “Ilamann Park.” The city’s current parks facilities page lists a Richmond facility called Hamann Park. The available records do not establish whether those names refer to the same location, so they should not be treated as interchangeable without additional city confirmation.

The city facilities page lists Charles Armour Park, also called West Park, with a shelter, ball field, playground structure, horseshoe pits, dog park and restrooms. Southview Park includes a public swimming pool, three ball fields, an 18-hole disc golf course, seasonal soccer fields, playground structures, a fishing lake and a walking trail. Maurice Roberts Park includes shelter houses, four lighted tennis courts, playground structures, picnic tables and restrooms.

What the grant requires

Missouri DNR says its scrap-tire surface-material grants support products made with at least 40% Missouri-generated scrap tires. Eligible non-playground projects include benches, picnic tables, walking trails and other similar molded products.

The department awards both playground and non-playground grants competitively and says there is no match requirement. Grant recipients must execute a financial assistance agreement with DNR before beginning work, and the Richmond ordinance identifies the award as reimbursable.

Funding comes from Missouri’s tire fee

Missouri DNR says the program is supported by the state’s 50-cent scrap-tire fee applied to the retail sale of every new tire. Retailers collect the fee and submit it to the Missouri Department of Revenue, which distributes the funds to DNR. The department says up to 45% of the revenue is available for grants focused on scrap-tire market development.

As of July 6, 2026, the city reported that the new benches and picnic tables were installed or nearing completion. That means park users should see additional seating and gathering spaces at the four project locations, although the reviewed records do not state how many benches or tables were purchased or confirm that every item was fully installed.

Sources

• City of Richmond grant announcement, July 6, 2026
• Richmond Bill No. 25-31 and ordinance approving the DNR agreement
• Missouri DNR Scrap Tire Surface Material Grants

The facility is being built across the street from ecomaine’s existing recycling operation. Ecomaine says the new plant will expand regional sorting capacity while routine recycling operations continue at the current facility.

A larger facility with new sorting equipment

According to ecomaine’s current project description, the work will create a 55,000-square-foot facility by renovating an existing building and adding 11,000 square feet. The project also includes new recycling-sorting equipment, along with office and education space.

The expansion is intended to modernize the materials recovery operation and provide additional capacity for communities that send recycling to ecomaine. Those are planned benefits; the current records do not establish that municipal contracts, processing fees or service levels have already changed.

Capacity is planned to rise by more than 66%

Ecomaine says the new facility will be capable of processing up to 25 tons of recycling per hour, which it describes as more than a 66% increase over current capacity.

If that capacity is achieved, it could eventually affect how much recycling ecomaine can accept from member communities and other municipalities. It could also influence future recycling contracts, processing access, costs and truck activity. The available records do not document those changes as current effects of the construction.

Ecomaine says routine recycling operations will continue uninterrupted at its existing facility during construction.

Financing records show bond and reserve commitments

Ecomaine’s March 19, 2026 board packet says the organization issued $39.445 million in solid-waste resource-recovery-system revenue bonds in December 2025. The packet also says the broader bond authorization covered up to $41.9 million for several capital projects.

As of March 19, the financing record listed $29.814 million in bond proceeds for planning, design, construction modifications, repairs and improvements at the new materials recovery facility at 90 Blueberry Road, including the new sortation system and equipment. It separately listed $744,968 for electrical service to the facility and $800,000 for fire suppression.

The same board record says the estimated construction cost of the new materials recovery facility had increased by approximately $6 million from the original estimate. The board authorized up to $2 million from ecomaine’s long-term capital reserve to cover part of that increase.

Ecomaine’s FY2027 budget presentation says the $41.9 million borrowing covered improvements to the new recycling facility, the landfill and the waste-to-energy facility. The budget also lists planned capital expenditures for the 90 Blueberry Road project, including building improvements, equipment, road work, spare parts and vehicle purchases. Those are financing and budget records, not an independent audit of the project’s final cost.

Completion is expected in 2027

Ecomaine’s current project page says construction is expected to be complete in 2027. Maine Public and the Portland Press Herald reported the May groundbreaking and described the facility as expected to come online in 2027.

That remains a target rather than a completed or guaranteed opening date. The milestones still ahead include finishing construction, installing and commissioning equipment, and confirming when the expanded facility begins operating.

For Portland residents and the municipalities that use ecomaine, the immediate verified change is construction at 90 Blueberry Road. Any future effect on recycling contracts, processing fees, municipal waste costs, recycling access or truck volume remains to be determined.

Sources

• ecomaine project page
• Mainepublic

Under the proposal, licensed haulers that offer residential recycling in Lakewood could be required to participate in Colorado’s Extended Producer Responsibility program and provide eligible recycling service without a separate charge to residents. The proposal has not been adopted, and any service change would depend on further council action and later implementation.

What the council will consider

The council’s regular business meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. The agenda lists Ordinance O-2026-30 as Item 4B, a first-reading measure that would repeal and replace Chapter 5.29 of the Lakewood Municipal Code, which covers commercial waste-hauler licensing.

A first reading is an initial council consideration, not final approval. The ordinance could still be amended, delayed or rejected before it becomes law.

Potential effect on residential recycling

Lakewood’s proposed approach would connect local hauler licensing with Colorado’s producer-responsibility recycling program. The city says that, if the licensing requirements are updated, any licensed waste hauler that offers residential curbside recycling in Lakewood would have to participate in the state program and provide that eligible recycling service at no separate charge to residents.

The proposal would not require a hauler that does not already offer residential recycling to begin offering it. It also would not make all waste services free, and it would not mean that every household receives the same service at the same time.

The city describes free recycling as potentially beginning to roll out as early as winter 2026-2027, with timing varying by hauler. The ordinance itself would not create an immediate launch on that date.

How the current licensing system works

Lakewood’s City Clerk’s Office says commercial waste haulers generally need a city license to operate within the city’s licensing framework. The current application materials list insurance documentation and a $50 payment among the requirements.

The proposed ordinance would revise the chapter governing that system. The available materials do not establish that the current application payment or insurance requirements would change, so those requirements should not be assumed to change unless the ordinance or later council action says so.

What residents and haulers should watch

The immediate next step is the Aug. 10 first reading. Residents, haulers and city officials will also need to watch for amendments, later readings, final adoption and details about how any new licensing obligations would be administered.

Until the city or a provider announces a change, households should continue following their current hauler’s recycling instructions. If the proposal advances, provider-specific timing and service information will matter because implementation may differ among haulers.

Sources

• Lakewood City Council agenda item: Ordinance O-2026-30
• City of Lakewood: Free Curbside Recycling
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: Producer Responsibility Program

The Draper City Council approved the contractor change through Resolution 26-35 on July 7. The city announced the transition on July 9, saying collection will continue without interruption while ACE assumes responsibility for residential curbside service on public streets.

What changes on August 17

The new base residential rate will be $19 per month for one garbage can and one recycling can. The rate for each additional can will increase from $10 to $10.50.

For a household using one garbage can and one recycling can, the change amounts to $4 more per month, or $48 more per year if the rate remains in effect for 12 months.

What stays the same

Draper says pickup days and routes will not change. Residents should continue using the garbage and recycling cans they already have; the city says there is no need to replace them.

Draper City will continue managing customer billing through Xpress Bill Pay. Residents will not move to direct billing from ACE as part of the transition.

Unless the city issues a later update, households should continue following their current collection schedule and using their existing containers before and after August 17.

Why Draper approved the switch

The city said higher operating expenses and liability claims prompted a review of the costs of continuing garbage and recycling collection in-house versus hiring a contractor. Draper said both options required a rate increase this year.

According to the city, continuing city-managed service was projected to require a 67% increase, compared with a projected 27% increase under the ACE contract. The city selected ACE through a competitive request-for-proposals process.

Draper also said the contract is expected to reduce city budget costs connected with facilities, vehicles and staffing, as well as lower the city’s liability exposure. The city acknowledged that staffing reductions are part of the transition but did not provide additional employee-outcome details in its announcement.

Who is affected

The change covers residential curbside garbage and recycling collection on public streets in Draper. It does not change the ACE service already provided on private roads, according to the city.

For most households receiving the standard service, the immediate practical effects are a $4 monthly increase and a change in the company performing collection. The city says the schedule, routes, containers and billing system will remain in place as the August 17 transition approaches.

Sources

• City of Draper garbage and recycling transition notice
• Draper Herald report on council approval

The sites are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The service is limited to residential loads transported in personal vehicles, and every load must be covered by a tarp or carried in an enclosed vehicle.

Where to take storm branches

The city lists two drop sites:

• Lyon Boulevard: 200 Lyon Boulevard. Access is available from West 12th Street or West Madison Street.
• Chambers Street: 1015 E. Chambers St., just west of the city’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Access is available from North Cliff Avenue.

The sites are available to residents of Sioux Falls and the five-county area served by the Sioux Falls Regional Landfill: Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha and Turner counties.

What residents can bring

The sites accept leaves and branches. Leaves and branches must be placed in separate piles. Paper bags are accepted, but all loads must still be tarped or transported in an enclosed vehicle.

Plastic bags, tree stumps, rubble and household garbage are not accepted. Residents should keep those materials out of loads headed to the drop sites.

Commercial and contractor loads must go elsewhere

Lawn-service companies, commercial businesses and contractors may not use the free residential drop sites. The city directs commercial entities to take their material to the Sioux Falls Regional Landfill at 26750 464th Ave. near Hartford.

That distinction matters for residents hiring outside help: material hauled by a commercial or contractor operation belongs at the landfill rather than at the temporary residential sites.

Public areas and private property

The city’s storm-cleanup guidance distinguishes debris in public rights-of-way from debris on private property. Residents should not assume the city will remove storm debris from a homeowner’s yard or other private property; property owners remain responsible for arranging that cleanup.

The drop sites provide a disposal option for eligible residential leaves and branches, but they do not provide private-property removal service.

Storm damage is still affecting Sioux Falls households

A July 31 report by Dakota News Now documented one Sioux Falls family’s continuing recovery after a tree fell on its home, leaving the house uninhabitable. The family was moving into a temporary rental while waiting for debris removal and stabilization work.

Residents with eligible leaves or branches should use one of the two sites before they close Sunday, Aug. 9. Bring only residential material, separate leaves from branches, secure the load and take stumps, rubble, household garbage and commercial loads to the appropriate disposal location.

Sources

• Leaf and Branch Drop Sites – City of Sioux Falls
• Sioux Falls family looks to move forward after storm damage – Dakota News Now

The city announced the survey on its official News and Media page. It is directed at St. Louis residents and concerns the services provided to residential households.

Deadline is Aug. 31

Residents have until Aug. 31, 2026, to submit their views, according to the city’s announcement. The survey is a public-input process focused on residential waste and recycling services.

The announcement was published July 24, 2026, on the city’s website. It identifies the closing date but does not report survey responses or describe resident sentiment while the survey remains open.

No collection change announced

The city’s notice asks for opinions; it does not announce that a change to trash or recycling collection has been approved.

Waste and recycling service is a core municipal function for city households, making the survey a direct opportunity for residents to weigh in on those services. The city says the survey will remain available through the stated Aug. 31 deadline.

Whether the feedback will lead to future operational or policy changes has not been determined in the announcement. Any decision affecting residential trash or recycling service would require separate confirmation from the city.

The City of Lodi announced the partnership on July 22, 2026. The campaign highlights rechargeable batteries, disposable vapes, electronic devices, aerosol cans, fuel containers, solvents and other hazardous materials that officials say can ignite or explode when crushed during collection or processing.

Campaign focuses on safer disposal

The effort is a prevention and public-safety partnership. The announcement does not identify the campaign as evidence that a specific Lodi fire was caused by improperly discarded waste.

Residents are being directed to keep hazardous materials and electronic waste out of ordinary trash and recycling carts and to use approved disposal resources instead. Lodi’s disposal guidance lists batteries, aerosol spray cans, paint, solvents, used oil and other household hazardous materials among items that should not be placed in the trash.

WM’s Lodi service guidance also identifies household hazardous waste and electronic waste as non-acceptable materials for regular residential container service. Acceptance rules can vary by item and collection program, so residents should check the applicable city, county or service-provider instructions before disposal.

Outreach will include buses and farmers markets

The campaign includes an eight-week social-media awareness series, fire-prevention messaging on Lodi GrapeLine buses and educational outreach at local farmers-market events.

The city and WM also plan to provide information about disposal options for batteries, electronics, fuels, aerosols, solvents and other hazardous materials.

Firefighters trained at WM facility in May

WM hosted several hands-on training sessions for Lodi Fire Department personnel throughout May at WM’s Lodi operations facility. The sessions included an operational walkthrough of hauling, recycling, transfer-station and compressed-natural-gas fueling operations, along with information about vehicle safety systems, emergency-response coordination and common fire hazards in the waste stream.

Sept. 5 electronic-waste event scheduled

A local electronic-waste collection event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lodi Transfer Station, 1333 E. Turner Road.

The date, time and address appear in the San Joaquin County 2026 electronic-waste schedule. The City of Lodi’s special-collection information identifies the same transfer-station address as a location for WM electronic-waste events.

Residents should review the applicable acceptance rules before attending. The September 5 event should not be treated as confirmation that every battery, electronic item or hazardous product will be accepted there; some materials may require a different approved disposal channel.

For Lodi residents, the practical next step is to keep batteries, electronics, aerosols, fuels and similar hazardous materials out of ordinary trash and recycling carts, then check the city, county or WM guidance for the correct disposal option.

Sources

• City of Lodi: WM and Lodi Fire Department Launch Community Fire Prevention Partnership
• San Joaquin County: 2026 E-Waste Events schedule

The City of Shoreview confirmed the local availability on July 10, 2026. Shoreview is among the municipalities currently included in the phased rollout, but the program is not yet available in every community across both counties.

How Shoreview households can enroll

Residents must sign up through the Food Scraps Pickup Program and use the program-specific bags supplied through the service. The current ordering page lists free orders of 60 bags in either a 6-gallon or 13-gallon size. Households can receive up to two free orders per calendar year, with free shipping under the current program terms.

The program says the 6-gallon bag is the preferred size for most households. Larger households and people who cook at home frequently may prefer the 13-gallon bags. Residents should check the ordering page when they enroll because program terms can change.

How collection works

Participants place accepted scraps in the program bag, tie the bag closed at least once a week, and put the tied bag inside their regular trash cart or dumpster. This is not a separate compost-cart service.

Residents should not place food-scraps bags in a recycling cart, beside or on top of a trash cart or dumpster, or inside another regular trash bag. After collection, the bags are separated from the trash and taken to an industrial compost facility.

What belongs in the bag

All food items are accepted, including meat, seafood, dairy products, coffee grounds, fruits, vegetables, bread, eggs and pet food. The program also accepts certain non-recyclable paper items, small houseplant trimmings and small wooden items such as chopsticks, popsicle sticks and toothpicks.

Some compostable serviceware and similar products are accepted, but only when they are BPI-certified compostable. A store-bought bag or product labeled generally as “compostable” should not be assumed to qualify. The program requires its own program-specific bags, and residents should check the accepted-items guidance before adding compostable products.

Liquids, grease or oil, plastic items, regular food packaging, pet waste, yard and garden waste, and other prohibited materials should stay out of the program bags unless the official guidance specifically lists them as accepted. Recyclable paper and other recyclable materials should go through the normal recycling system instead.

Drop-off sites remain available

Residents who prefer not to use pickup can continue using food-scraps drop-off locations. Ramsey County says its sites are open to Ramsey County residents, while some listed sites also accept Washington County residents. Drop-off sites remain available as the pickup program expands, and they can serve residents in communities that are not yet eligible for pickup.

The broader Ramsey-Washington program is being expanded in phases. The program administrator’s stated target is to make the service available to all residents of both counties by the end of 2027. That is a rollout goal, not a completed expansion, so residents should check the availability information for their municipality before ordering.

Sources

• City of Shoreview food-scraps pickup notice
• Food Scraps Pickup Program participation guidance
• Food Scraps Pickup Program bag-ordering page
• Ramsey County Food Scraps Drop-Off

Quick take: what Lincoln residents need to know now

• Campaign name: “Love Your Land Phil.”
• Who/what is Land Phil? A waste-diversion ambassador character meant to encourage habit changes that help divert materials away from the landfill.
• When it starts: The city says it will be scheduled to begin in July (no specific day was provided in the sources).
• Where to check “bin rules”: Use Lincoln’s official “What Bin Does It Go In?” tool linked from the city’s Recycling guidance hub.

Timeline and the campaign’s background

Lincoln’s solid waste team introduced the campaign on June 25, 2026. A campaign background item dated June 29, 2026 describes the planning work behind Land Phil, including research and testing activities led through the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center.

What the campaign is asking residents to do

The message is designed to focus on everyday choices that determine what ends up in the landfill. In practical terms, the city and its partners say residents should:

• Reduce waste at home.
• Save food (so less food becomes trash).
• Recycle more often and correctly—because contaminated recycling can negate good intentions.

KFOR also reports the outreach will include appearances by Land Phil, plus ads and community events as part of the education push.

Campaign goals: what success is supposed to look like

According to KFOR, the campaign’s targets include:

• Divert 1,000 tons of food waste
• Divert 1,000 tons of other reusable/recyclable items through recycling, composting, and waste-saving practices
• Increase curbside recycling subscriptions by 25%
• Reduce recycling contamination by 10%

KFOR reports the effort is tied to a $1.7 million EPA Region 7 Recycling Education and Outreach Grant awarded to Lincoln in 2024.

Where to check before you toss something

Lincoln’s official resident guidance points people to the city’s searchable tool, “What Bin Does It Go In?”, located on the city’s Recycling page.

When you’re unsure about an item, the city’s guide specifically says to use the tool so materials don’t end up as waste.

Need help fast? Call the Recycling Hotline

If you still have questions after checking the bin tool, Lincoln’s printed resident guide lists a Recycling Hotline: 402-441-8215. The guide says residents can call to ask additional questions and to add their business to the “What Bin Does It Go In?” directory.

Behind the scenes: why Land Phil is built around behavior change

Lincoln’s campaign background includes work by the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, including a literature review, public engagement activities, survey data analysis, and intercept testing to help assess public response to Land Phil.

Bottom line

As “Love Your Land Phil” ramps up in July, use Lincoln’s official “What Bin Does It Go In?” tool now—because reducing contamination (and avoiding landfill-bound mistakes) is a central part of the campaign’s goals.

Sources

• KFOR: City Launches New Waste Diversion Education Campaign (published June 25, 2026)
• University of Nebraska Public Policy Center: Meet Land Phil (includes June 29, 2026 background)
• City of Lincoln LTU: Recycling — “What Bin Does It Go In?”

What the City approved (and what you’ll pay in July 2026)

City Council approved the following residential monthly solid waste rate schedule to go into effect July 1, 2026:

• Standard trash + recycling (90-gallon trash + blue recycling): $42.32/month
• Optional curbside green organics subscription: $10.58/month (City rate documents list this as effective July 1, 2026)
• All three together (trash + recycling + green organics): $52.90/month

The City’s Phoenix at Your Service (PAYS) July 2026 newsletter also discusses the green organics subscription, and it lists that option as $10.83/month. If your bill shows a different number for the organics line item, treat the July city services bill as the final word for what you’re being charged.

When you’ll notice the change: check your July city services bill

The City says the first $5/month increase will be reflected on the July city services bill. That’s the key timing for residents who want to identify the start of the new rate before it becomes a routine monthly amount.

New option: curbside green organics subscription

Green organics is an optional subscription, not automatic. The City describes the fee as tied to the applicable monthly solid waste rate and starting July 1, 2026.

Discount update: switching to a smaller trash container (SAY R&R)

Phoenix also updated the discount for households that switch to a smaller trash container through the City’s Save As You Reduce & Recycle (SAY R&R) program:

• Previously: discount of $3/month
• Starting July 2026: discount increases to $5/month

In the City’s rate chart, the package with SAY R&R (using the smaller 60-gallon black trash container) is shown as $47.90/month for regular trash + recycling + green organics.

What to do now (before the July billing period)

• Review your current setup (your trash container size and whether you’re in SAY R&R).
• Decide whether green organics makes sense for your household and whether you want to add the optional subscription.
• Plan to check your July city services bill—the City says that’s when the first $5/month increase shows up.

Sources

• City of Phoenix newsroom: Solid Waste Rate approved by City Council

Here’s what Lexington residents were told to do next.

No curbside recycling pickup on Tuesday, June 23

In a city alert, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government said there would be no curbside recycling collection on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The city linked the change to mechanical issues at the Lexington Recycle Center caused by wet recyclables after the heavy rain.

The city also told residents that if they put out blue-cart recycling for Tuesday, the materials would be landfilled. The city said there is no storage space at the recycle center for recyclables until the mechanical issues are resolved.

Residents with Tuesday curbside waste collection were also urged: if possible, don’t put your blue recycle cart out on Tuesday.

City officials added that the Lexington Recycle Center was not accepting material from other waste haulers, and residents with private waste collection (or curbside collection in a surrounding county) should check with their provider for updates.

City urges residents to report flood damage to 311

Separate guidance from the city urged residents affected by Monday morning’s flash flooding to contact LexCall 311 and report flood damage. In the notice, Mayor Linda Gorton said the National Weather Service reported 2.5 to 3 inches of rain in less than an hour and a half in parts of Lexington-Fayette County.

The city’s guidance for property owners focused on safety and follow-up, including:

• Safety first if flooding is inside a basement.
• Report damage to 311 so city crews can come and evaluate.
• Document losses before cleanup—the city said photos can help support insurance claims.
• Contact an insurance company and, if needed, a plumber or cleanup professional.
• The city noted that in most cases, water entering through basement walls, windows, sump pumps, gutters, or private service lines is a private property issue, not city-maintained infrastructure.
• If the flooding is from sanitary sewers (not floodwater), the city’s contractor can assist with cleanup.

The city also said street flooding should be reported to 311, and residents should provide the precise location so crews can inspect post-flooding problems such as clogged storm drains and debris.

Finally, the city reiterated severe-weather safety messages: residents should not drive through flooded roadways, and should call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.

Sources

• City of Lexington guidance: City urges residents to report flood damage

Smyrna residents should plan around Friday, June 19, 2026. The city’s 2026 holiday schedule for sanitation and recycling says Juneteenth will move curbside collection earlier than usual.

Under the city schedule, Tuesday routes will be picked up on Monday, Wednesday routes on Tuesday, Thursday routes on Wednesday, and Friday routes on Thursday. Households that normally set carts out later in the week should check the holiday schedule before placing anything at the curb.

The city also says there will be no yard waste or large-item pickup during the holiday week. For residents trying to clear brush, bundle limbs, or schedule a furniture or appliance pickup, the practical message is simple: hold those items for a normal collection week rather than expecting a holiday pickup.

Recycling center and library will be closed Friday

The Smyrna Recycling Center will be closed on Juneteenth, according to the city’s 2026 closure notice. Anyone planning to drop off recycling, paint, or other accepted materials should make that trip before Friday or wait until the center reopens after the holiday.

The Smyrna Public Library calendar also lists Friday, June 19, as closed for Juneteenth. That affects residents who use the library for browsing, study space, children’s programs, computer access, or quick in-person errands.

The main planning point is simple: if your trash or recycling routine normally runs later in the week, the city says the schedule shifts forward. If you need the recycling center or the library, handle those trips before the holiday begins.

For most households, the safest approach is to treat Thursday night, June 18, as the cutoff for holiday-week curbside timing. Checking the city’s holiday collection schedule now is the easiest way to avoid a missed pickup or an unnecessary trip on June 19.

Sources

• City of Smyrna — Holiday schedule for sanitation and recycling

The practical answer for residents is simple: curbside recycling remains available, but it is still opt-in. If an eligible household does not already have a cart or bin, service has to be requested through 311. The city has not started automatic cart delivery across New Orleans.

What changed on March 31

On March 31, City Hall asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a no-cost extension of the city’s recycling grant. But the revised request was narrower than the original plan. Instead of moving ahead with the large cart purchase that was supposed to make recycling universal for eligible homes, the city said it wants to keep the education, outreach, and long-term planning pieces.

That means the April 2026 development is administrative, not operational. Existing recycling pickup is not being ended by this request, but the city is also not launching the long-promised citywide cart rollout.

The city’s public statement said the original proposal for this phase totaled more than $5.4 million, including $4,565,000 for 83,000 residential recycling carts, $468,000 for education and outreach tied to the rollout, $350,000 for a solid waste master plan, and $49,609 for staff support. The EPA fact sheet lists $3,982,000 in federal funding for the award, while the larger project total reflected the full proposal budget.

What the original grant was supposed to do

The original EPA-backed project was broader than a public education campaign. It was supposed to expand curbside recycling to all eligible households, add new service to about 73,000 households, replace roughly 10,000 older legacy carts, and produce a 10-year solid waste master plan.

That matters because the city’s own grant narrative did not treat opt-in recycling as a minor inconvenience. It described the opt-in system as a participation barrier that disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities. In that proposal, universal access was part of a larger equity and waste-diversion strategy, not just a cart-delivery exercise.

The same proposal said the city had never produced a solid waste master plan and envisioned a public-input process to shape one. So the remaining planning piece could still matter if it becomes a real policy roadmap instead of a scaled-back promise left on paper.

What residents should know now

For households, the rules are still the same. The City of New Orleans says it offers once-weekly curbside recycling to properties eligible for city solid-waste collection. Eligible residents can receive one free recycling container, but it is delivered after a request, not automatically. Outside the French Quarter and Downtown Development District, that is generally a 64-gallon roll cart. In those two districts, it is a smaller blue bin.

So if a household is eligible and still does not have a recycling container, the immediate takeaway is straightforward: request one through 311.

What to watch next

The big unresolved question is whether EPA accepts the city’s narrower extension request.

After that, the next test is whether New Orleans actually produces a public solid waste master plan with resident input and a clear adoption path. If the cart rollout is gone, the value of the surviving grant pieces will depend on whether they lead to a concrete city policy on recycling, waste diversion, and service equity rather than another round of planning without delivery.

Sources

• Verite News recycling explainer
• WWNO report on extension request
• City of New Orleans official statement on SWIFR
• City recycling service page
• EPA fact sheet for New Orleans SWIFR award
• City SWIFR narrative proposal
• EPA recycling grant recipients page