Last month, Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), the contractor that now is handling trash and recycling pickup in Kewanee, delivered new blue carts to local households.

The carts, which resemble the blue carts that Kewanee residents have been using for trash disposal for several years, are for recycling.

Residents can toss recyclables — cans, plastic, glass and paper — into the carts without putting them in bags. In fact, bags aren’t permitted in the carts.

There is no need to separate glass and plastic from paper; it all goes into the same cart.

City Clerk Kasey Mitchell said Thursday that the new pickup system is going well. But some people aren’t interested in recycling, and have no use for the recycling cart.

In some parts of the city, residents have complained that the unused and unclaimed carts remain on the parking strips where they were delivered, and create an unsightly situation.

Residents who don’t want to recycle can call City Hall (309-852-2611) or LRS in Monmouth (309-586-4410) and ask to have their recycling cart taken away.

Mitchell said residents aren’t required to recycle if they don’t want to. “We’re not going to force anyone to recycle,” she said.

But when someone calls and asked to have their recycling cart taken away, “We try to talk them into at least trying it for a little while.” she said.

Some people have done this, but others remain unconvinced of the need to recycle, Mitchell said.