The city of Surprise is preparing to reintroduce a curbside recycling program this winter in partnership with WM, formerly Waste Management.

Starting Monday, March 4, recycling trucks will begin picking up blue curbside recycle bins and taking approved items to a recycling center for processing.

To prepare for a designated pickup day collection:

• Trash and recycle bins must be curbside by 6 a.m.
• Place bins in the street against the curb, with the handle side closest to your home.
• Ensure both containers are at least four feet away from each other and from nearby fences, light posts, mailboxes or other obstacles.
• Keep all vehicles a minimum of 15 feet away from the bins.

Customers can easily find a designated pickup day on the MySurprise App. The app is available in both the Apple and Android app stores or online at surpriseaz.gov/mysurprise.

Using the app, click on “Trash Reminders” to find a pickup day and sign up to receive weekly reminders about pickup schedules, including changes caused by holiday weeks.

The city has been encouraging residents to get back into the habit of recycling through a pre-launch program that started in July. Over the past several months, households were asked to practice preparing and separating their recyclables.

During this time and through the end of the pre-launch in February, all items in trash and recycle bins will continue to be landfilled until the curbside recycling program officially begins.

Items allowed in the recycle bins are paper (no shredded paper), approved plastics represented by the number 1 or 2 inside the recycling symbol, cardboard, aluminum or tin cans and glass bottles.

All recyclable items should be lightly rinsed, if necessary, and completely dry before going into the curbside recycling bin.

The city’s Public Works team will be regularly checking recycling bins for unacceptable materials. Homes that are not recycling properly will have educational tags placed on their containers. If residents repeatedly place unacceptable items in their bins, they will receive a violation notice from inspectors.

The city’s dropoff recycling program will remain open until Feb. 28 for those who want their items recycled. Residents can bring their recyclables to the Public Works North Yard, 17274 N. Litchfield Road from 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays

Customers can find information on Surprise’s curbside recycling program and tips on how to “Recycle Wise” at surpriseaz.gov/Recycle.