AHOSKIE – Changes, to include pick-up days, are in store for the collection of solid waste from residential and commercial accounts in Ahoskie.

Effective July 1, the town will officially change contractors for the collection of garbage and recyclables. Last month, members of the Ahoskie Town Council approved a service contract with Waste Industry, making a change from GDS.

According to Ahoskie Town Manager Tony Hammond, municipal residents will no longer be able to place household garbage in the containers provided by GDS after June 30.  GDS will complete the collection of their rollout carts and recycle bins by June 30. Hammond urged those with GDS carts to have them available at curbside.

Meanwhile, Waste Industry has begun the process of delivering their roll-out recycle carts to each residence in town. In addition to the recycle cart, each residence will receive a new rollout cart for household garbage.

There is a change in collection days as Waste Industry has divided the town into four sections with garbage pick-up days once per week on Mondays through Thursdays.

Section 1 (Monday collection) is the southeastern area of town (south and east of First Street and the railroad track, to include South Catherine Creek Road, South Memorial Drive and NC 561, Harrellsville Highway).

Section 2 (Tuesday collection) is the northeastern portion of town (north and east of First Street and the railroad track, to include North Catherine Creek Road and the Ahoskie-Cofield Road area).

Section 3 (Wednesday collection) is the southwestern area of town (south and west of First Street and the railroad track, to include South Academy Street, NC 42 West, and the areas in and around Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital).

Section 4 (Thursday collection) is the northwestern portion of town (north and west of First Street and the railroad track, to include North Academy Street and Colonial Acres).

Fridays will be used as a catch up day for those missed on Monday through Thursday. Waste Industry will provide a calendar with collection days and section identifications.

Hammond said the recyclables will be collected every two weeks on the same day as the section’s scheduled pick-up day.

“Initially, each residence will be delivered one recycle and one household cart, each containing a serial number assigning that cart to a specific location and items for each type of cart cannot be co-mingled,” Hammond said.

“In addition and unlike with GDS, Waste Industry will be responsible for repairing broken carts and providing additional carts, at a monthly cost, should you need one. They will deliver requested carts and provide the Town Hall with that information to include the serial number,” Hammond added.