LYNN – The Department of Public Works has warned roughly 400 local businesses that if they don?t abide by a mandatory paper-recycling ordinance, their trash will no longer be picked up by the city.According to DPW Associate Commissioner Manuel Alcantara, warning letters were sent out to the businesses on July 12 informing them that by July 28, the city would cease picking up trash if business owners don?t play by the rules.After a roughly two-week transitional period, Alcantara said starting this Monday, Aug. 11, the city will be going full blast with enforcement and has advised Waste Management not to pick up trash from places without recyclable material placed on the curb.?As of now, we have 86 percent of businesses complying with the program that we serve,” he said. “I would like to thank those who have opted to participate, but to the others, they will have to make arrangements for a vendor to pick up their trash.”Alcantara said the remaining 14 percent of businesses not cooperating with the ordinance could face health code violations and the lack of trash removal by the city could seriously impair their business.Passed by the City Council in 2005, the ordinance requires all businesses to participate in the curbside paper recycling program, which includes cardboard flattened and cut into pieces not larger than 30″x 30″; white paper, colored paper, computer paper, file folders, envelopes, Post It Notes; newspapers, magazines and catalogues, junk mail; paperboard; brown paper bags, phone books/paper books; and shredded paper placed in clear plastic bags.Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce President John Olson said he would prefer to sit down with the DPW and talk about the problem before cutting certain businesses out of the program.?We want to send an e-blast out to all those in the membership in the event they didn?t get the letter in the mail, and also sit down with the DPW to see how we can help insure compliance,” he said.Referencing the way the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) handled the enforcement of the sign ordinance, Olson said he would like to do the same with the non-compliant businesses to educate them.?It could be a language barrier, so I?d like to see if we can?t go in there and educate them before people get shut off,” he said.The city currently pays $111 per ton for trash collection and disposal, and about $93 per ton for the collection of recyclable material.Alcantara said the costs associated with trash disposal continues to grow each year both from increases in the per ton disposal price and from the increasing volume of trash placed at the curb.?We have worked hard to educate the business community and want to help in this transition process,” he said. “For one reason or another, there are always businesses that either don?t generate enough recyclables for trash that week, were on vacation, or something else. But this should send a message to all businesses.”For more information regarding the ordinance or the process, call Alcantara at 781-586-6921.