Upgrading to recycling carts has led to a sizable uptick in recycling in Brownstown.

According to numbers provided by Rumpke of Indiana, town residents recycled a record 23,060 pounds in August.

Since September, residents have recycled between 15,000 and 21,000 pounds each month.

That’s compared to November 2015 to June of this year, when the number of pounds recycled never reached 10,000.

The town changed from red recycling bins to green 95-gallon recycling carts in July, but it took until September to get the entire town supplied. The carts are similar to the size of the brown carts residents use for trash.

Clerk-Treasurer David Willey said it is great to see the recycling numbers increase.

“I expected some increase. A 33 percent increase and more depending on the month is exceptional,” he said. “I was shocked to see the continual rise and the consistent increase over the first four months. Debbie Hackman of solid waste management is exceptionally pleased, also. The town of Brownstown is proud of our continued improvement in trash and recycling service.”

Willey said he believes more people are recycling because of the larger cart, which has a lid, is easier to move and is more appealing to residents.

“We allowed residents to use more than one recycling tote before the change, but more capacity, convenience and enclosed storage have contributed to the additional number of participants,” he said. “We have also renewed the awareness of everything that can be recycled through our new sewage bills. We have more space to devote to the weeks recycling is picked up and what can be recycled.”

With the change to a recycling cart, the monthly charge for trash and recycling is $12.55 — $9.05 for trash and $3.50 for recycling. Before the change, residents had been paying $11.35. The charges are listed as a line item on their sewer bill.

Read the full story in Wednesday’s Tribune and online at tribtown.com.