The City of Gastonia is making it easier for residents to keep track of trash and recycling collection days and what can be put in each cart. The City has introduced a new solid waste app called WasteWise that is easy to use, convenient and customized for each household or address.
With the app residents can:
- Get reminders of when their garbage, recycling and yard waste will be picked up
- Select whether they want reminders via email, phone call or text and when they want to receive them
- Download a customized collection schedule into a digital calendar or print a collection schedule
- Get notification when a holiday or bad weather will change their pickup date
- Receive alerts about special collection events such as leaf collection, free excess trash week, shred day and Christmas tree pickup
- Find out if specific items can be recycled
The WasteWise app is available for home computers and mobile devices. “Residents never have to worry about forgetting their garbage day again – or rushing out in their pajamas to push their carts to the curb,” said DeeDee Gillis, Solid Waste Division manager. “They also don’t have to wonder if this is their week for recycling collection. The app will tell them.”
The City collects residents’ garbage, recycling and yard waste. Currently, garbage and recycling are collected in green and gray carts respectively. Brown carts are also available for yard waste collection. Although yard waste carts are not required, Gillis said many residents prefer them because they are convenient to use around the yard and neater than piles of brush at the curb. The WasteWise app will provide residents with collection dates for trash, recycling and yard waste along with the types of items that are approved for each. In the app store, search for “WasteWise” or “Gastonia.”
City garbage trucks have been turned into rolling billboards displaying messages and images that promote the WasteWise app. The City is also using social media to encourage residents to download the app. “Gastonia residents do a great job of recycling, composting and diverting waste from the landfill,” said Dale Denton, director of Public Works. “This app will make it even easier. And it will save the City money because of fewer issues with collection services and fewer items put in the wrong carts.”
