Single Stream Recycling Begins in Middletown

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MIDDLETOWN – Town­ship residents are now free from sorting recyclables as the township transitioned to single stream curbside recycling this week.
Starting Monday, July 2, the practice of collecting glass, plastic and metal containers in one pick-up, then newspapers and cardboard in another pick-up several weeks apart came to an end. All permitted recyclable materials can be put into the same containers. Recycling will still be collected twice a month, but residents can put all their recyclables out each time, Mayor Anthony Fiore announced.
The switch to single stream recycling is part of new garbage and recycling collection contracts with Republic Service/Marpal Dis­posal and Future Sanitation. The five-year contracts will save the township nearly $500,000 compared to the previous contracts, the mayor said.
“It’s a real win-win situation. Under the new contract the township will be able to reduce costs and increase services,” the mayor said. “In addition to the convenience and environmental factors, single stream recycling will make the collection process more efficient, cut costs and generate new revenues.”
With single stream recycling, all cans, plastic containers, bottles, jars, cardboard, newspapers, office papers and mixed papers (junk mail, magazines, coupon inserts) can be placed into the same containers. There is no change to the collection schedule. All recyclables will be collected twice a month based on the existing schedule by zone, said Public Works and Engineering Director Ted Maloney. He noted the maximum weight per container is 50 pounds.
“I encourage everyone to recycle as much possible. The more we reduce what we send to the landfill means more savings on disposal fees. It also means greater revenues from the sale of the recyclables collected,” Fiore said.
Recyclable materials are collected township-wide. Solid waste is collected from approximately 14,000 households located in the Solid Waste Collection District. The garbage collection schedule will remain the same. How­ever, the service provider will accept a limited amount of bulk waste on the second collection day of every week instead of twice a month.
Additional information is available by calling the Middletown Public Works Department at 732-615-2008 or visiting www.middletown nj.org/recycling.