Manteca’s first “recycling” calendar — with each month displaying winning elementary school student art entries — will be sent to city households.
And for the first time in more than eight years, the paper stock used to produce the calendar can be recycled in blue carts once 2026 ends.
The winning art work accompanies a resolution being presented to the Solid Waste Division tonight when the Manteca City Council meets at 6 p.m. that proclaims Nov. 15 as America’s Recycle Day in Manteca.
The 12 winning entries were selected by those who dropped by the Manteca Senior Center and voted for their three favorite entries that were displayed on a wall.
The entries came from kindergarten through 8th grade students at Golden West, Brock Elliott, McParkland, and Nile Garden schools.
The 12 students who won the competition will be honored tonight.
All the winners’ artwork will also be placed on the side of one of solid waste division’s garbage trucks.
The city last month was able to return to more robust recycling thanks to a new contract that separates the contents of the blue carts from any contamination and sends them to concerns that will recycle them.
Manteca only had a limited amount of items that could be recycled in the blue cart prior to Oct. 1.
The biggest change involves mixed paper, glossy paper, newspapers, magazines, and paper bags that can be placed in blue carts.
Paper board and cartons — such as cereal boxes and shoe boxes — will also now be accepted along with corrugated cardboard.
Plastics bags — grades one through seven that were never accepted previously — are also good to go in the blue carts.
The metal collection is also more robust with aluminum foil joining tin cans and aluminum cans.
Glass bottles and glass jars are again being recycled as are all California Redemption Value (CRV) containers.
Next garbage rate
hike set for Jan. 1
The third of four previously approved annual rate increases will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026. Rates will go up $4.04 a month to $58.72.
The fourth rate hike on Jan. 1, 2027 will then take a household’s monthly solid waste bill up $4.35 a month to $63.07.
The rate was unchanged from 2016 through 2024 when it was $34.33 a month. It first went to $50.92 on Nov. 16, 2023.
The current rate of $54.68 reflects a $3.76 hike that went into effect Jan, 1, 2025.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
