As you may know by now, there is a new way to recycle materials in Hoboken known as the “single stream” process in which ALL recyclable items are commingled: no more separate bins or collection of paper, cardboard, glass, cans, all types of plastic. The city has switched to this new program in order to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, to increase amount of materials recycled, and to make it easier for residents by allowing all recycled materials to be put together in the same bins. The bins must have lids (as you will fast learn, the lids are critical to keep the wind from blowing paper all over and prevent birds and rodents from gathering and to alert the pickup trucks that recycled material is inside). Simplicity itself, an assist for the environment and a source of income for the city.
To get the system working properly, Hoboken Public Works Department is offering to hold meetings with building maintenance/management companies and condo associations to explain the program. Just send an email to Dave Calamoneri, dcalamoneri@hobokennj.org.
In as much as the Quality of Life Coalition and its Committee for a Green Hoboken introduced the idea of single stream recycling and urged its adoption, we are assisting the City of Hoboken in getting information out to the general public about the new recycling regulations. The new regs went into effect June 7, 2011 though the city won’t start enforcement for a few months so that everyone has the time to get the hang of the new procedures. Info is on the city’s website at http://www.hobokennj.org/departments/environmental-services/recycling-garbage/
Effect on Multi Family Buildings
Many multi family buildings may need to change their recycling room procedures, make sure residents (owners & renters) understand the changes and will reduce the amount of landfill waste from Hoboken. Keep in mind too, recycling just got a lot simpler.
Biggest changes:
1) As of June 7, the City is now picking up COMMINGLED plastics, glass, cans, cardboard & paper on both Tuesdays & Thursdays. Recyclables must be in bins with lids, not plastic garbage bags no matter how small or how large. Paper will go into the bins with everything else but cardboard can be bundled & set to the side.
2) No plastic bags!! The big change is that no plastic bags are to be put in the bins. The waste processor – Waste Management – will charge the city if there are a large number of plastic bags mixed in (either grocery store plastic bags or giant garbage bags). We need to make sure that residents no longer drop recyclables in plastic bags into the cans in the basement or collection area. If the residents carry recyclables down for disposal in plastic bags, they need to open the plastic bags, dump the plastics/cans/glass/paper, and toss the plastic bags in a separate garbage can. Some buildings are creating a separate bin just for the plastic bags which they will accumulate and later take to local grocery stores that accept such bags.
We recommend that shoppers use reusable canvas or cloth bags to bring home the groceries and to tote recyclables down to their recycle area.
3) A major benefit of the new system is that more types of plastics & papers are accepted now — Any numbered plastics with the numbers 1 to 7 on the bottom may now be recycled. (Plastic caps should be removed but may be added to the recycle mix,) Junk mail (even with cellophane windows!), phone books, magazines, even paperback books may be recycled, and no need to worry about the occasional staple, paperclip, rubber bands, cellophane windows on envelopes, etc. — all that’s OK.
There are a few items that CANNOT be recycled, like plastic six-pack rings and slick address sticker label sheets, but it’s all on the city’s flyer, which everyone should have
received in the mail last week along with the city’s recreation program. The flyer is available on the city website www.hobokennj.org.
The city is also giving away — for free — blue lidded garbage pails with “Hoboken Recycles” printed on the side and lid. Public Works also has Recycle stickers available if you decide not to use new bins and reuse existing cans. ALL bins used for recycling must have lids which MUST have the recycling stickers on them so the collection trucks can see that the bin is for recycling. Building maintenance personnel will be carrying or wheeling (depending on the bins used) to transport up to 32-gallon bins out to the curb Tuesday and Thursday evenings and will collect them again in the morning.
If you need any more information, let us know. The QLC/CGH is trying to develop a list of frequently asked questions to help multifamily and condo buildings adapt to the changes. www.qlcHoboken.org.
Please remember- no plastic bags in the mix.
QLC thanks Jason Tecza, a member of the QLC’s Committee for a Green Hoboken for having introduced the idea of single stream recycling, for performing research about its operation and benefits, and urging its adoption. Our gratitude as well to the Zimmer administration for its acceptance of the idea and to the City Council for unanimously approving the ordinance to enact the program.
Helen Manogue, Coordinator, Hoboken Quality of Life Coalition
and QLC’s Committee for a Green Hoboken
Melissa Abernathy, Assistant Coordinator, QLC and QLC’s CGH
Tom Chartier, Chair QLC’s Committee for a Green Hoboken