West Orange Launches Single Stream Recycling

As part of the new Refuse and Recycling Contract West Orange residents will place all recyclable items at the curb each week on the recycling day in their zone. 

All items may be mixed together or placed in separate containers. However, they all will be placed in the same truck but separate from garbage.

The recycling day is determined by the first refuse collection day of the week Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. There will be no more alternating weeks. 

Single Stream recycling is the recycling of glass bottles and jars, aluminum beverage cans, tin or steel food cans, foil trays, plastic containers with a recycling symbol and number (excluding #6 Styrofoam & Styrene), cardboard, newspaper, office paper, junk mail, catalogs, magazines, cereal box type cardboard and soft cover books. These items are separated at the designated recycling facility for shipment and processing to be used in the manufacture of other products.

Recyclable items may be placed at the curb next to refuse in a recycling tub or container with handles on the first refuse collection day of the week. All bottles, cans and plastic containers must be rinsed free of residue and cardboard boxes flattened and placed in a pile if too large to fit in a tub. 

 Refuse and Recyclables must be placed at the curb before 6 a.m. the day of collection or later than 7:00 pm or dusk the day preceding collection. 

Recycling is mandatory and must be separated from refuse according to State mandate and local ordinance. Now that recyclables will be collected every week there will be no need for schedules, remembering what items have to be placed at the curb on alternating weeks or storing recyclables for longer periods.

All households should recycle every week to reduce the amount of waste being placed in the garbage which reduces disposal costs and is beneficial to the environment. The West Orange Environmental Center is also an option for residents that choose to bring recycling to 590 Mt. Pleasant Avenue. Material brought to the WOEC may not be combined into single stream. For more information and detailed guidelines go to www.westorange.org or call the Health Department at 973-325-4120 or the Department of Public Works at 973-325-4067.