Media
Release
CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Department of Public Works
(856) 455-3230 Ext 231
BRIDGETON’S NEW SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING CITY-WIDE,
EASY FOR RESIDENTS
New 96-Gallon
Red Containers Hit the Street this Week- Enforcement Begins in April
In effort to lower the
cost of trash collection and disposal and make recycling easier for residents,
the City of Bridgeton will be starting the new single-stream recycling program
this week.
The very first thing
residents will see will be the new 96-gallon red recycling containers that are
being delivered to residential homes throughout the city over the next 2 weeks
barring weather delays.
Single-Stream Recycling or
SSR for short; means that residents will no longer have to sort papers from
plastics from glass, but can place all recyclable materials into one large 96-gallon
red container for curbside pick-up along with the regular household trash in
the big blue container.
“Instead of people breaking
down recycling materials into separate containers, residents will be able to
place all recyclables into one large red container and be done with it. Red
means recycling and blue means regular trash” said Bridgeton Public Works
Director Dean Dellaquila.
While recycling in
Bridgeton will be easier for residents, it will also come with strong fines for
those who mix trash in with recyclables as enforcement personnel will be
checking containers to make sure that trash is not mixed in with items to be recycled. Enforcement personnel will also check trash
containers to ensure that recyclables are not mixed in with trash.
In order to help residents
get accustomed to SSR, enforcement officers will issue warnings over a 60-day
period which will end on April 5th. Beginning April 6th, those who mix or
“co-mingle” regular household trash in with recyclable items or recyclable
items in with regular trash will be fined a minimum of $59 for each offense,
plus any court costs that may be imposed.
As far as the “do’s and
don’ts’”, residents should place plastic, steel (tin), aluminum, glass
containers, newspapers, magazines,
beverage/food containers, cardboard and other paper products, and junk mail
into the 96-gallon red containers.
Items in the new red
containers that will draw a warning or fine from enforcement officers are
plastic bags, any materials in plastic bags, shredded paper, any hazardous
waste like motor oil containers, Styrofoam or other non-recyclable plastics,
any liquids in bottles or containers, and non-recyclable glass or ceramics.
These items should not be placed in the new 96-gallon red container.
Officials also want to remind
residents that using the $3.00 yellow trash sticker is not an option for
recyclable materials as the sticker is only to be used for large trash items
that don’t fit into the blue trash containers
“We understand that it
will take residents a little time to adjust to this new routine, that’s why
we’re providing a couple of months where we will be giving warnings and using
that time to really educate the public about these changes. We’ll do what we
need to in order to educate the public including literature for students in
schools. Once April 6th comes, regular enforcement will proceed”
said Dellaquila.
As far as the old small
red container and red paper bin, residents can keep them, but these old
containers should never be used at curbside once the new 96-gallon red
container has been delivered to the residence.
If residents want to get
rid of their old red containers, they can be turned in at the Florida Avenue
Convenience Center on Saturday’s between 7am and 3pm. Residents can also cut up
the old containers and place them inside the large new red 96-gallon SSR
containers as well.
If the new single-stream
recycling program is an adjustment for residents, it’s also a chance for
residents to lower the cost of hauling and disposing of trash, which is done by
weight and is otherwise known as tipping fees.
“The more recycling
material that ends up getting mixed in with regular household trash, the more that
trash weighs and that means increased tipping fees and increased costs to
residents. The more we can recycle out, meaning less weight to our trash; the
lower our tipping fees and residents will realize a cost savings” said
Bridgeton Mayor Albert Kelly.
“Ultimately, we want to
save residents money through aggressive recycling but we also want to do the
responsible thing with regard to the environment” Kelly added.
In order to help residents
with the new regulations, materials will be made available in English and
Spanish and residents can also access materials on the City’s website.
“The bottom line is that
we can lower our tipping fees, increase recycling credits, make recycling
easier for residents, while doing the right thing for the environment; it’s a
win for everyone” Dellaquila said.
# # #
To learn
more about the City of Bridgeton please visit www.cityofbridgeton.com
Use anonymous TIP411 Text
Service to report crime by texting “Bridgeton” plus your tip to 847411
 |
| New 96-gallon red recycling containers being delivered in Bridgeton for single stream recycling (SSR). |
 |
| Residents should place plastic, steel (tin), aluminum, glass containers, newspapers, magazines, beverage/food containers, cardboard and other paper products, and junk mail into the 96-gallon red containers |
 |
| New 96-gallon recycling containers replace smaller red recycling containers-forming a "single stream" for recyclables |