Recycling overwhelms Fort Worth. (Municipal Recycling).

Fort Worth, Texas, launched a new recycling program March 31. Better-than-expected participation during the first week led to a few glitches, however.

According to the Fort Worth Star Telegram, additional work crews were shifted from garbage to recycling collection, and two crews were brought in from Oklahoma to help staff the recycling routes. Some of these crews were using garbage trucks to collect recyclables; however, the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) assured residents that all recyclables were going to a recycling facility, not to a landfill.

According to the DEM, roughly 65 percent of the city's residents participated during the first week of the program, compared to a 38 percent participation rate for the city's earlier program.

The volume of recyclables collected increased because of the growth in participation and the use of larger collection bins. In addition, Fort Worth's new contract with Abitibi Consolidated allowed for an expansion of acceptable recyclables to include all types of plastic food containers and cardboard packaging. The Abitibi contract also allows for the continued collection of glass, which the company processes for use as aggregate in civil engineering applications.

According to the DEM, the city was pleased with the first week of the new program and expected quick resolution to the initial issues.

The program requires residents to put recyclables into 64-gallon recycling carts and yard trimmings in paper yard bags or tied bundles. The services are designed to improve the city's 6 percent recycling rate by making recycling easier. Residents are also able to select a smaller garbage cart, thereby saving money on their monthly garbage in this pay-as-you-throw program.