Old paperback books, used deli containers, and crinkled Christmas wrapping paper could equal saved money for Perrysburg.
Starting Monday, the city will double its curbside program to accept more items but will not add fees or raise taxes, officials said.
The city's recycling program now breaks even. The city sells its recycling to FCR Recycling, which charges handling fees.
Any dramatic increases in collecting recyclable materials would cut the city's spending on hauling trash to the landfills, officials said.
Perrysburg typically spends about $280,000 a year -- or $43.18 a ton -- to take items to landfills in Bowling Green and Northwood.
Officials could not provide an estimate of how much the expanded recycling program might save in landfill fees.
"It's a better spending of taxpayer money," said Judy Hagen, program coordinator for the city's litter prevention and recycling office.
The list of items the city will soon add to its recycling collection includes flattened cardboard that is smaller than 12-by-18 inches, shredded paper in see-through plastic bags, paper gift bags, nonmetallic wrapping paper, aluminum trays, and aluminum foil smashed into balls.
The city accepts plastics labeled No. 1 and No. 2 but will add Nos. 4, 5, 6, and 7 to that list.
Those items could be plastic cottage cheese containers, margarine tubs, laundry detergent containers, drink cups, storage containers, medicine bottles, and juice bottles.
The city now accepts newspapers, magazines, catalogs, glass, and metal cans.
Expanding the recycling program was suggested because of the popularity of the two drop-off cardboard recycling centers. About 25 families drop off items at each site every week, Mrs. Hagen said.
The drop-off site at 211 E. Boundary St., which opened in November, is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon.
The site at 11980 Roachton Rd. has the same hours Monday through Friday but is closed Saturday.
Contact Gabrielle Russon at: grusson@theblade.com or 419-724-6026.
First Published April 18, 2012, 4:00 a.m.
