Helena residents could have curbside recycling available by Dec. 1, after a year-and-a-half long process is drawing to a close.

Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale is this week signing a contract with Allied Waste for twice-monthly curbside recycling for the city.

Councilmember Cris Nelson said the recycling service, which will be optional for residents, would cost $6.79 per household monthly.

Nelson said if the service does not begin Dec. 1, it would begin no later than Jan. 1, 2010.

“It’s something that everybody’s been wanting. It just makes common sense to recycling products as much as possible,” Nelson said. “We think this is going to be a positive thing for the city.

Residents will be allowed to recycle No. 1 and No. 2 plastic, paper, aluminum and tin products. The city has a list of about 1,000 residents that want to sign up for curbside recycling, Nelson said.

“We’re confident that once the program gets started, then there will be more people who sign up for the program,” she said.

Also, once the curbside recycling program begins, the public recycling bins near the sports complex on Ruffin Road will be removed because of continued misuse.

Nelson said the city would send out a notice about the recycling service to homeowners soon.