Separating recyclables will be a practice of the past for Burlington County residents in May with the implementation of streamlined recycling. The “big blue cart,” which residents currently use for cardboard and paper, will soon be an all-purpose recycling tool.
Moorestown Township Mayor Stacey Jordan explained that she is looking forward to the program coming to the township, as it will make it even more convenient for residents to recycle.
Drawing from her own experiences as a resident, she explained that it would be a lot easier having everything “comingled together” as opposed to Moorestown’s current program, which involves separating types of recyclables to ensure that only cardboard and paper go in the “big blue cart” prior to it going out to the curb.
Starting in May, residents of Mooretown will be able to use their carts to dispose of not only paper and cardboard, but also cans and bottles.
“This is just a step to make it better,” Jordan said. “I think it will be a great thing for the town.”
Currently, the county is working to find out whether residents are in need of the signature blue cart, or a second cart to supplement the amount of recyclables put to the curb each week.
If residents currently have a 48-gallon, 64-gallon or 96-gallon cart, they’re asked to visit the county website to determine whether they need a second one before May.
According to the county, it is estimated that more than 30,000 homes may need an extra cart, of differing sizes. It will take months to gather everyone’s information, order the carts, and deliver the right size carts to the right homes next spring. And keep plastic bags out of recycling buckets and carts.
Not only is the program free of charge for residents, but the frequency of service will not change.
Currently, major facility modifications are being made to the Robert C. Shinn Recycling Center in Westampton. Following that, new single-stream sorting equipment will be installed.
The county website stated that studies show single-stream brings with it an increase of 10 percent or more in recycling. The more people recycle, the less waste there is in landfills. Last year, recycling saved the towns more than $3.2 million in landfill tipping fees. Those cost-savings are effectively tax savings, since they improve the bottom line of municipal budgets.
Jordan said that along with the potential savings for the township, the goal of the program is to see less waste entering the landfill through an increase in resident participation.
“I think the convenience and ease of recycling is going to be better,” Jordan said. “Whenever you can make something more convenient and easy, then residents will take advantage of it.”
To determine whether an extra “big blue cart” is needed, residents are asked to visit www.burlcorecycles.com to determine their usage. The deadline for registration is Sept. 30.
