The new refuse program started this week and the Madison Streets Department has taken into account the problems student renters could potentially face.
George Dreckmann, Madison's recycling coordinator, said he hopes all the kinks will be worked out within the first few months.
One of those kinks is having students adapt to using the new tan garbage bins. The program Mayor Dave Cieslewicz has set up eradicates the use of traditional trash bins.
Dreckmann said he acknowledged the fact that the new bins are somewhat spur of the moment for students because most of the publicity for the program took place in the summer.
There'll be some shaking out,"" Dreckmann said. ""It'd be unrealistic to expect it to happen all really smoothly right out of the gate.""
Still, Cieslewicz said in a release that residents should catch on to the new program rather quickly because it is nearly identical to the current recycling program.
Another problem that has developed is some houses, which are sold as separate flats, only received one trash cart. In some cases, more than 10 people are forced to use one trash cart. Dreckmann said the problem is easily solved.
""If you only got one cart and it's a three [story] flat '¦ we'll get you the carts you need,"" Dreckmann said, adding that students just need to call and a cart will b e delivered to their homes free of charge. ""It's not an unusual situation '¦ we can take care of it.""
As for avoiding possible fines, both Cieslewicz and Dreckmann have stressed throughout the promotion of the new program the importance of reading the information on the bins.
Dreckmann said throughout the early stages of the program, garbage collectors will leave garbage that has been left outside of the bins behind.
""We may leave trash behind on the ground '¦ we want people to use those carts,"" Dreckmann said, adding fines could result
but only if it is a problem area. ""We don't want to resort to fines.""
Any questions about the program can be directed to the Streets Division. For those living west of Park Street, the number is (608) 266-4681 and those east of Park Street - (608) 246-4532 or online at www.cityofmadison.com/streets.
