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In an effort for Greenbelt to be greener — and to save money — the city is expanding its recycling program.

The city began a pilot program in March 2009 when 50 homes in the Boxwood neighborhood were each given 65-gallon rolling recycling carts. Residents originally had 18-gallon bins.

"One hundred percent of the respondents said that they loved it," said Recycling Coordinator Luisa Robles at a Jan. 25 council meeting referring to a November 2009 survey about the new carts. "They are recycling more. It's easier to recycle. It's easier to take the cart out. They're more mindful of all of the things they can put in the cart now, so they're very happy."

The city wants to encourage more residents to recycle, because it currently costs $5 a ton to recycle, compared to $54 a ton for trash. Robles said the trash fee would be increasing to $59 per ton in the coming months. It cost the city $30 for each ton of recycling in October, but that price decreased as the cost of commodities increased, Robles said. Last year the city collected 2,145 tons of recyclables and 1,780 tons of refuse, Robles said.

The city has purchased 60 more 65-gallon rolling carts to finish distributing to the Boxwood neighborhood and plans to give the 15-estimated leftover carts to the Greenspring I neighborhood.

Robles said she would like to give a cart to every single-family home in Greenbelt "as money becomes available."

Robles said that all homes that the city services directly are given the 18-gallon bins.

Recycling Supervisor William Smith purchased the carts in bulk for $38 each, but said residents could purchase them from Lowes for $69 each. Robles said anyone interested in purchasing a cart on their own would need to check with the city to make sure the cart is compatible with the city's recycling truck lift system.

Robles estimated the earliest all of the single-family homes could have the carts would be three years.