Grapevine has nearly doubled its recycling since wheeled bins were provided to residents in fall 2012, a representative of the city's waste disposal provider told the City Council.

A representative of Republic Services Inc./Allied Waste Industries, the city's trash and recycling provider, told the City Council on June 18 that tonnage increased by 82 percent from November 2012 to March 2013, compared to the same period the preceding year.

The city also has the opportunity to participate in a pilot brush pickup program that would help keep brush out of the landfills. Now, an average of 86.22 tons of brush and bulk items go into the landfill from Grapevine every month.

Under the program, which would be piloted in two areas in the fall if the council approves it, only tree limbs, brush, leaves and grass clippings in paper mulch bags could be picked up on the first, third and fifth Wednesday of the month. Both brush and bulk would be picked up on the second and fourth Wednesdays.

This would allow most brush to be processed for use in compost. The council could consider approval of the pilot program this month.