Watch the sidewalks of Alliance in October. I would not predict they’ll be everywhere, but expect a few dozen roughly oblong green blobs on the sidewalks. Improperly stuffed bean bags? No. An early promotion for St. Paddy’s Day? Nope. Rather, the colorful 55-60 gallon sacks will be a literal nod to a new way to be “green”.
Keep Alliance Beautiful has been flirting with a million pounds kept out of the local landfill for the past few years as the City of Alliance has been studying how to reduce its flow of refuse much longer than that. Clint Fankhauser, landfill supervisor and KAB board member, has opened my eyes on a number of occasions to just how much of about everything ends up at his workplace, especially materials that could have ended up at mine. So, when J.D. Cox returned as city manager, I was glad to begin a conversation on how KAB could play a bigger role in extending the life of the landfill.
Two objectives we explored have been how to convince more local residents to recycle and how to streamline the process to move additional material through the KAB Recycling Center. You guessed it (or maybe you didn’t) – curbside pilot program! Of course this sounds familiar to longtime recyclers/residents. Our current curbside routes, both paid and free (for senior citizens and people with mobility issues) grew from an initial pilot program and feasibility study. That handful of innovators has expanded to more than 200 households in the short years since.
The 2026 version will accept 50 households for the program. Each participant pays $120 up front, spread out in the household budget it is an affordable sawbuck per month. The intent is for people to sort and separate their recycling within the aforementioned giant green bag (provided by KAB). Every time their bag meets that requirement the address will be logged to receive a rebate on their utility bill from the City at the end of the year. That means $5 added for later return if the bags are picked up every other week. Participants would provide their own bags for each material and would be encouraged to set out stacked/broken down corrugated cardboard with the bag. KAB would furnish identifying labels for the green bags. Materials would be required to be clean and dry as well as sorted to qualify for the rebate.
Call the KAB office at 762-1729 or email keepalliancebeautiful to sign up. The program begins October 2026. Pickup days and other information will be forthcoming.
Sign up quickly. These chic new bags will be limited to 50 Alliance residents (living within the city’s corporate limits) – first come, first served. Our sorters will love the express version of curbside I’m sure. We’ve even attracted a few new volunteers I hope will still be here this fall to help usher in a new green movement.
Thanks to our friends and neighbors, including those who represent us on the City Council and work for the City of Alliance, who are committed to an environmentally healthy, sustainable future.