PELHAM – Although recycling services have been temporarily suspended, Pelham Mayor Gary Waters said recycling bins are still being emptied and the items placed in with regular trash.

“If there are things in people’s recycling bins, it will be picked up – just not recycled,” Waters said.

Roberto Rodriguez, president of Pelham-based Trash Taxi Alabama, said those who would like to continue recycling are welcome to drop off their recyclable items at Trash Taxi headquarters, located at 656 Stuart Lane.

To help with excess trash accumulated during the holidays, Waters said a dumpster will be placed outside of Fire Station No. 1 from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3. The dumpster will be monitored by Pelham fire fighters and police officers to ensure safety and to make sure that inappropriate items, such as mattresses and furniture, aren’t placed in the dumpster.

Residents are asked to review the list of items that can and cannot be recycled before dropping off items at Trash Taxi.

Recyclable items include: plastic food, beverage, detergent bottles and jugs labeled No. 1 or No. 2, water bottles, metal and aluminum cans, newspapers and inserts, magazines, catalogs, brown paper bags, corrugated cardboard, office paper, copy paper, shredded paper in paper bag, file folders, file or packing boxes, junk mail, cereal boxes, brown or gray paper packages (dry food, packages, etc.)

All plastic, metal and aluminum items must be rinsed thoroughly.

Items that are not recyclable include: plastic bags, plastics No. 3 and No. 7, milk, soda and juice cardboard cartons (they’re poly-coated and cannot be recycled), pizza boxes, loose shredded paper, medical waste, glass, tissue products, paper towel, paper that has contact with food items, wax-coated paper, paper cups, plastic buckets, dishes, cookware, food storage containers like Tupperware and Rubbermaid products, Styrofoam, bubble wrap, telephone books, A/C filters, yard waste or yard debris, clothing and/or cloth material, electronics and auto parts.

Recycling services will resume Feb. 1, 2017 when the city’s three-year contract with garbage and recycling provider, Advanced Disposal, takes effect.