Single Stream Recycling Collection Begins July 2

New Garbage & Recycling Contract Cuts Costs by Nearly $500,000

Middletown residents will be freed from sorting recyclables this Independence Day as the township transitions to single stream curbside recycling.

Starting Monday, July 2^nd the practice of collecting glass, plastic and metal containers in one pick-up, then newspapers and cardboard in another pick-up several weeks apart will come 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 & 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,” said Mayor Fiore.

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. Call the Public Works Department at 732-615-2008 or visit www.middletownnj.org/recycling for more information.

Expanded garbage and recycling services is the latest in a series of steps made by the Township Committee to generate new savings and more revenues while delivering core essential governmental services at the most effective and efficient level. Changes include restructuring the Public Works and Recreation Departments, embarking on a solar initiative in partnership with Monmouth County, greater use of document digitization, cost-saving changes made to the employee health insurance programs, purchasing gas and electric as part of collective, a nearly   9% town-wide reduction in full-time staff, and entering into shared-service agreements with other municipalities and the Board of Education.