Effective today, Benton no longer has a recycling program for residential customers.

The City Council Monday night voted to terminate the program due to misuse according to City Clerk Brook Craig.

Craig says some people were using the recycling bins on Grand Street for regular trash instead of recyclable materials. They were also putting their trash on the ground.

Craig added that when you put trash in a recycling bin, it contaminates what can be recycled. And if the bins are left open and it rains, then everything in the bin becomes garbage and nothing can be recycled.

The city is expected to release a statement on its decision later today on the City of Benton Facebook page and website.