Starting today, green TFC Recycling trucks will be criss-crossing the city to pick up thousands of blue recycling cans at the curbside.

It’s the first day for the new citywide recycling program, which was instituted by City Council as part of the 2011-2012 fiscal year budget. TFC was tapped to provide the service after operating a subscription-based program last year.

The new service is part of a widely unpopular refuse enterprise fund begun by the city, which is costing every household $17.50 per month. The fee will be billed in two lump sums throughout the year, on each homeowners’ real estate tax bill. It also includes regular trash pickup, maintenance at the old Hosier Road landfill and preparation for the eventual demise of the Southeastern Public Service Authority, which has provided free disposal for Suffolk in exchange for hosting the regional landfill.

When TFC began delivering the cans last month, many residents realized for the first time that the program had been approved in May and that they were now expected to pay the $210 yearly fee.

Residents can dump a wide variety of materials into the cans, including newspapers, magazines, junk mail, cardboard, paperboard, aluminum, steel and tin cans, plastic bottles and glass containers.

The bins will be picked up every other week on regular trash days. Pickup starts today. Residents should have received a postcard with their pickup schedule.

The cans also should have come with information on Recycling Perks, a TFC program that tracks recycling participation and provides residents with coupons for local merchants in exchange.

For more information on the program, call the Public Works hotline at 514-7670. To find out what day your first pickup will occur and other details on Recycling Perks, visit www.recyclingperks.com/suffolk.