Sep. 2--BELLINGHAM -- Helping the environment just got a little easier for people in downtown Bellingham, where nine new recycling containers have been installed near major intersections.

Five of the cans are located on Holly Street, three are on Magnolia Street and one is on the corner of Railroad Avenue and Chestnut Street outside of Woods Coffee, said Darby Galligan, a development specialist with the Planning & Community Development Department. A 10th can is awaiting installation but officials have not yet decided where to place it, she said.

The blue recycling cans, which were installed in August, are for plastic bottles and cups, aluminum cans, coffee lids and other plastics labeled with a recycling arrow.

People are urged to dispose of recyclable materials properly and to not place garbage in the new cans.

"If the recycling cans are contaminated with garbage, the good efforts of all the people who recycled are eliminated," Galligan said.

The recycling program was funded by $15,000 from the city's Solid Waste Fund, which paid for the costs of the recycling cans and the expanded services of Sanitary Service Company.

If downtown recycling is successful, continuing the program is estimated to cost less than $5,000 per year.

Reach ISABELLE DILLS at isabelle.dills@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2220.

To see more of The Bellingham Herald or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.bellinghamherald.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, The Bellingham Herald, Wash.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

<< -- 09/03/2009>>