Automated trash pickup in Cape Girardeau

Solid waste driver James Stitt attaches a tag to a trash container Monday, May 3, 2010, to notify the owner that it was improperly placed for pickup. It was not placed at the curb, and a parked car was blocking access by the automated arm on the truck. Stitt moved the can for pickup, but would not do so in the future. (Fred Lynch)

Driver James Stitt operated the automated arm after moving the trash bin to the street. In the future, the driver would not pick up the improperly-placed bin.

A tag specifies the reason for not collecting trash.

Traffic on West End Boulevard across from Capaha Park stretches back near Broadway because motorists cannot pass around the automated trash truck. (Fred Lynch)

Kevin Crocker with Cape Girardeau Public Works gets out of the truck Monday to move a recycling bin to the curb so the automated arm could grab it. He also placed a tag on the can to notify the customer it was placed improperly. (Fred Lynch)

The new automated trash and recycling program began Monday, May 3, 2010 in Cape Girardeau. The truck operator stays in the cab while the mechanical arm hoists a green bin filled with mixed recyclables. (Fred Lynch)

Driver Kevin Crocker found trash in a green recycling bin instead of a tan trash can, so he did not pick it up.

The automated pickup arm is operated from the cab by the driver.

Solid waste supervisor Mike Tripp shows the result of single-stream recycling Monday at the Cape Girardeau Public Works recycling center. The bales range from 1100 to 1500 pounds each. (Fred Lynch)

Recyclable glass is collected at the recycling center next to the Cape Girardeau Public Works on Southern Expressway.