The county's new recycling program is scheduled to begin on Thursday, Feb. 2.

That is the target date, said Gary Vance, county solid waste coordinator, that Waste Management's three giant hoppers will be lined up and ready to receive county residents' recyclable waste at the Hotchkiss North Fork Transfer Station.

The agreement between the county and Waste Management is scheduled to run for one year with option for four additional one-year extensions.

The transfer station is located three miles southeast of Hotchkiss off Hwy. 92 on K50 road. It is open to all Delta County residents and businesses at no cost.

Operating hours are Thursday through Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The recycling operation will be supervised by county personnel.

The three, 40-cubic-yard containers that will be placed on site are available for the following segregated materials:

• Recyclable materials are known as commingle, paper, and cardboard. Commingle, at a minimum, includes aluminum, tin, glass bottles and jars, and plastics labeled #1 through #7.

• Paper includes office paper, newspaper, magazines, and glossy paper.

• Corrugated cardboard.