3:30 update: Officials in Village Hall have told Patch that single stream recycling is at the stage where public bids are to be put in to the Village for providing the services.

South Orange is considering changing its recycling program to “single stream recycling,” a program which allows residents to put all of their recyclables into one container without separating.  The Board of Trustees have committed to wanting to implement this project in the past and are now in the final stages of implementation.

Single streamed recycling means that all recyclable materials, including mixed paper, high grade paper, cardboard and commingled containers (bottles, cans, etc.) may all be placed in a single toter for pickup.  Cardboard will also be picked up with the same container/recycling dates.

These recyclables will then be placed in a single truck, with a similar schedule of twice a month pickup.  The truck then brings them to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), where the recyclables will be sorted into various commodity streams for sale to markets, where it is then processed into materials that can be used in the manufacture of new products.   Maplewood has been using the system since January 2009. 

In a statement posted to the town's websiite, Trustee Janine Bauer said that “residents will enjoy the ease of recycling under the new system.”  The new process will make it easier for residents to recycle, which the Village hopes will encourage them to do more of.

The Village had said that single stream recycling has been shown to increase recycling rates by approximately 25% and reduce trash tonnages by over 10%.  It also reduces municipal financial outlays by reducing truck routes, tipping fees and other operating costs.

“The Village expects to increase revenue from the sale of recyclables because more residents will recycle more materials that they are currently throwing away,” said Bauer.

In the original statement, South Orange Village President Alex Torpey applauded the new program.

“This is a place where the people care a lot about their impact on the environment, and single stream recycling is one more example of how South Orange is a leader as a modern, environmentally sustainable community,” said Torpey.

The board of trustees hope that the single stream recycling program can lead to a “Pay as You Throw” (PAYT) type of program.  The PAYT program lets residents pay their garbage haulers based on the amount they throw out, rather than paying a flat fee.  

Residents will continue to be able to bring recyclable materials down to the Department of Public Works’ recycling depot.  The targeted date, if single streamed recycling is enacted, would be early Spring.