Recycle Aluminum Foil & Plastic Tubs with Single Stream Recycling in Baltimore County, MD

Residents of Baltimore County, MD have had a curbside recycling program for several years now, but a switch to a new "single stream" recycling program in February 2010 means Baltimore County residents will now be able to recycle more household items than ever. In the past, many potentially recyclable items have had to be discarded by Baltimore residents, but starting in February, the city will finally move into the new era of cutting-edge recycling programs.

So just what new items can you recycle in Baltimore County that you weren't able to recycle before? I recently received a mailing from the state of Maryland detailing the new additions to Baltimore's recycling program. One of the first items that stuck out to me was aluminum foil. I love the convenience of using tin foil when I cook, but I hate that I have to throw it away instead of recycling it. With the new single stream recycling program, however, I can simply put aluminum foil in the recycling bin along with the rest of my recyclable items and rest assured that the raw materials will be reused. The addition of aluminum foil is probably my favorite part of this new recycling program! A wider variety of plastic items can now be recycled in Baltimore County, including all plastic containers labelled with a number 1 through 7. Plastic tubs, which are commonly used to hold margarine, yogurt, and cottage cheese are a notable addition to the recycling list, since previously only narrow-necked plastic bottles were recyclable in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Because of the equipment used to process single stream recycling, recyclables may no longer be placed out in any sort of a plastic bag. A plastic trash container specifically labeled for recycling, a cardboard box, or a paper bag are all acceptable recycling containers under the new program. One of the benefits of the new recycling program is that Baltimore County residents will no longer have to separate paper from bottles and cans, since now all items can be placed into the same container. Some items that could not be recycled before, like pizza boxes and waxed paper, are still prohibited under the new program. Check out the mailing you received or visit the Baltimore County website to find a detailed list of allowed and prohibited items with single stream recycling. Also, all types of recyclables will now be collected every week, eliminating the need for residents to have to "hold" recyclable paper, metal, or glass until the designated pick-up week.

Single stream recycling starts in Baltimore County, Maryland on February 1, 2010. County residents should have received several mailings in the past few months detailing the new recycling program at length. Stickers that can be placed in trash bins to designate them as "recycling" can be obtained at government offices through out the area. For more information about the new single stream recycling program, visit the website listed in the resources section of this article.