Single-Stream Recycling Starts on April 1

Ocean City officially launches single-stream recycling today (Monday, April 1).

That means people will no longer have to sort recyclables before taking them out for curbside pickup. All recyclables can be mixed in the same container.

According to the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority, the following are acceptable materials for recycling:

• Paper: newspapers, office paper, junk mail, shredded paper, brown paper bags, magazines, telephone and paperback books, cardboard and "clean" pizza boxes, (gift, shoe, tissue and powdered detergent boxes), dry food boxes (cereal, cracker, etc.), beer and soda carriers, non-foil wrapping paper
• Plastic: anything labeled No. 1 through No. 7, including food and beverage containers (yogurt, margarine, microwave trays, for example); health, beauty and cleaning product containers; other rigid plastics (including buckets and landscape pots)
• Metal: food, beverage and aerosol cans made of aluminum and steel (tin)
• Glass: clear, green and brown (but not window glass)

In a presentation to City Council on Thursday, Ocean City Public Works Director Mike Rossbach reported that in addition to providing a convenience to residents, single-stream recycling will help Ocean City save on collection costs. And if the convenience helps increase recycling rates, those savings can only grow.

For more information on recycling in Ocean City and schedules, visit the city's "Trash and Recycle FAQ."