Nov. 13, 2019 9:20p; Edited on Nov. 14 to better reflect. Ald. Bogdala's concerns

(WGTD)---A few more details were revealed at a Public Works Committee meeting Wednesday night about Kenosha’s upcoming conversion to an automated curbside collection system for recycling and garbage.

Each household will be receiving, free of charge, a pair of 96-gallon, two-wheeled push carts that’ll have to be rolled out on appropriate collection days. One will be for garbage; the other for recyclables.

If elderly or disabled residents are unable to push the carts, city workers will do it for them after they sign up.

The new system will allow garbage collectors to stay in their trucks, leaving the heavy lifting to 14-foot-long hydraulic arms that’ll latch on, lift and empty the carts. The automation will free up four workers from regular routes, and is expected to reduce worker injuries.

The city needs to move to the new system because the blue recycling bags that are currently used by residents are clogging up automated sorting machines.

Public Works Department Director Shelly Billingsley said the city realizes there’s going to be a learning curve. During the first couple months of the program, supervisors are expected to be on the road, solving problems as they crop up and teaching the new system to residents.

Ald. Dave Bogdala posed a series of questions, some of which were designed to guarantee that any messes made by overturned bins would be cleaned up on the day in which they occurred.

Staffers said the new trucks will be equipped with software to keep track of recurring problems, which supervisors will then address with home visits. Also, the trucks will have video cameras.

The bins will include tracking devices to help locate any that are lost or stolen.

For most of the city, the conversion is expected to take place in July, but it’ll be preceded by a much smaller pilot program.

The new system was unanimously approved by Public Works Wednesday night.

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