Recycling, brush and garbage pickup in Chattanooga are being changed.

At a press conference today, Mayor Ron Littlefield announced three changes that are expected save the city between $750,000 and $1 million a year.

Instead of once a month, the city will collect recycling biweekly, starting in September, he said. Rather than monthly pickup, brush can be collected daily starting in July, he said, and starting in August, about 18,000 residents in Chattanooga will get a new garbage day.

Residents who want recyclables picked up are expected to call 643-JOIN or register online at www.recycleright.org to sign up, the mayor said, even if they’ve already been recycling.

Instead of sending trucks to every community for brush pickup, those who want brush collected are expected to call 311, he said.

Garbage pickup days are being reset because some members of the Public Works Department have been rescheduled from a four-day work week to five days, Mr. Littlefield said. Residents will be notified of their new garbage date in July, he said.

“This is an exciting time for Chattanooga,” said Mr. Littlefield. “We’re going to be making changes.”

A lot of money was being wasted because city trucks were sent to collect brush and recyclables in several areas where they were not needed, the mayor said. The changes are expected to increase efficiency, improve service and save money, he said.

For complete details, see tomorrow’s Times Free Press.