New garbage and recycling service to begin in Washington July 1

The City of Washington would like to remind residents that beginning Monday, July 1, Johnson County Refuse will begin collecting garbage and recycling from area residents.

The contract was approved in March with the start date approved for the first day of the fiscal year. Johnson County Refuse is responsible for trash collection in surrounding areas as well, such as Kalona, Lone Tree and Hills.

Garbage and recycling cans were dropped off over the last two weeks and will need to be used beginning July 1. Cans with a yellow lid are to be used for recycling only. Recyclable materials include cardboard, glass and plastic but do not include window glass, yard waste or plastic grocery bags. All containers must be rinsed and cardboard needs to be flattened. All materials can be placed in the same can and do not need to be sorted.

Garbage cans, which come in two sizes, have either a black or a green lid. Garbage cans with a black lid are for weekly pickup and cans with a green lid will be picked up every other week. Lids must be closed upon pickup. Additional trash must be placed in a 35-gallon, 40-pound weight limit bag, and be placed on top of the can. A pink sticker, available for purchase at city hall, will be required for the additional bag only. Garbage placed inside the container does not require a sticker.

Both garbage and recycling will be picked up on the same day and cans need to be placed at the curb by 6 a.m. on the day of pickup. Lids must be closed with the arrows pointing toward the street and 4-feet clearance around the cart, away from obstacles such as other cans, mailboxes or utility poles, and not under low-hanging branches or power lines. Johnson County Refuse suggests placing the cans on either side of the driveway to accommodate this, or if that is not possible, placing the can at the curb on the grass.

Residents with recycling carts and garbage cans they no longer have use for are encouraged to place them on the curb on the day of their pickup beginning the week of July 8. Johnson County Refuse will pick up the cans and the city will pick up the carts. Both must be empty and will be recycled. After this date, cans will require a pink sticker on each container to be picked up. Old garbage and recycling cans many not be used after July 1.

Due to the holiday, pickup scheduled for Thursday, July 4, will take place Friday, July 5. The schedule will resume as normal with pickup taking place Monday-Thursday beginning the week of July 8.

Anyone with questions is encouraged to call Washington City Hall at 319-653-6584 or Johnson County Refuse at 319-665-4498.