City of San Marcos Implements New Green Waste Program

San Marcos residents who use City trash services will get new green waste carts starting next week.  The City of San Marcos has partnered with Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) to provide green waste disposal to homes in San Marcos.  Additionally, the City and TDS will be replacing the current 95-gallon trash carts with smaller 65-gallon carts. Residents will continue to have a 96-gallon recycling cart.

 

The carts will be delivered to homes the week of Oct. 26 and will take up to 3 weeks to complete delivery throughout the city. Flyers explaining pick-up days and items that can be disposed of in the carts will be attached to the cart. Green waste service will begin the second week of November.

 

Green waste includes organic material such as:

Grass, plants, small branches and leaves

Soiled paper such as napkins, cardboard, cartons, pizza boxes and paper towels.

 

Items such as meat, dairy, pet waste, treated wood and Styrofoam may not be placed in the green waste carts.

 

The green waste program was adopted after a successful two-year pilot program to approximately 700 San Marcos homes.  One of the residents who participated in the pilot program shared her appreciation with the City and TDS, “My recycling and green waste cans are full to overflowing every week. My regular garbage can is not even half full.  It makes me feel good to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

 

Residents will also receive a smaller 65-gallon trash cart, which will continue to be serviced weekly. The smaller trash cart will be delivered with the green waste cart.  If they haven’t already, residents who prefer to keep the 96-gallon trash cart for an additional $3 per month should contact Amy Kirwin at 512.393.8407 or akirwin@sanmarcostx.gov

 

“When we added curbside single stream recycling in 2009, the extra space in the trash cart was filled with yard waste. This is the next step in diverting material from the landfill and implementing the Municipal Solid Waste Comprehensive Plan completed in 2012,” said Amy Kirwin, City of San Marcos Solid Waste Coordinator.

 

With the addition of green waste service, residents should be able to divert even more items from the trash cart to the new green waste cart.

 

Carts must be at the curb by 7 a.m. on their designated pick-up day and placed 5 feet apart for pick-up.

 

The City and TDS will host a series of workshops to assist residents with making the most of their new green waste carts and recycling options. Residents are invited to attend any of the scheduled sessions:

 

Nov. 4 – San Marcos Activity Center at 510 E. Hopkins at 7 p.m. Multi-Purpose Room

Nov. 7 – Veterans Day Parade Courthouse lawn before the parade

Nov. 14 – America Recycles Day at the downtown Farmers Market on San Antonio St 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 16 – Dunbar Recreation Center Hall at 801 W. MLK at 7 p.m. at the Council of Neighborhoods Associations meeting

 

TDS provides four bulky pick up days per year to San Marcos customers.  Pick-up should be scheduled at least one day in advance of your trash service day by 2 p.m., either the first full week or the third week of the month by calling TDS at 800.375.8375 or the City of San Marcos at 512.393.8407.  However you may call at anytime in advance to schedule your pick up prior to the first or third week.

 

The City of San Marcos hosts monthly brush drop-off (weather permitting) on the second Saturday of each month at 750 River Road for San Marcos residential garbage and recycling service customers.

 

The City of San Marcos hosts collections for household hazardous waste at the City Hall traffic yard (630 E. Hopkins–across from the big HEB) on Tuesdays and Fridays from noon until 3:30 p.m.

 

The Facility Accepts::

drain cleaners

degreasers

paints

fluorescent lights

cell phones

batteries

weed killers

sharps

 

The facility does not accept tires, medical waste (other than sharps), compressed gas, waste generated by business, pharmaceuticals, cylinders or computers/TV’s.

 

Prescription and Over the Counter drugs can be dropped off at the San Marcos Police Department (2300 N IH-35) in the front lobby in a secure kiosk.

 

For more information on the green waste carts, workshops or other solid waste services please contact Amy Kirwin at akirwin@sanmarcostx.gov or 512.393.8407. Green Waste Cart Video – https://youtu.be/SwdVKnvS9QY