Single-Stream Recycling in Baltimore County, MD: How Does it Work?

If you are a resident of Baltimore County, Maryland, you have probably already received a mailing or two about the county's switch to "single-stream recycling" in February 2010. This is an important change in recycling policies that all Baltimore County residents need to be aware of. Simply put, the new recycling program will allow glass, metal, and paper to be processed together in a "single stream" instead of requiring items to be separated like before. Single-stream recycling will ultimately make recycling household items easier for Maryland residents, but the switch also requires a change in recycling collection procedures that many people will not be used to. This article contains everything you need to know about the upcoming switch to single stream recycling.

As I stated earlier, all recyclable items (including glass, metal, and paper) will now be able to be "co-mingled" in the same container if you live in Baltimore County Maryland. This means that instead of placing recyclables out on alternating weeks (one week for paper, one week for bottles & cans), all recyclable items may now be placed out for collection each week. This is a lot more convenient than having to store your recyclable items until the proper week came along for collection! Although you are allowed to mix paper, metal, and glass together in the same container with single-stream recycling, you do not have to. You can still sort your items if you wish. Also, with the single-stream recycling program, more plastic containers (including yogurt and margarine tubs) can be recycled than ever before, allowing even more "trash" to be reused instead of sent to a landfill.

Another important change coming with single-stream recycling in Baltimore County, Maryland is that plastic bags can no longer be used to hold recyclable items. Though bags were acceptable in the past, they are not compatible with the single stream sorting equipment, and recyclables placed outside in plastic bags will not be collected. Recyclables may still be placed in cardboard boxes or paper bags. Or, you can place your recycling out in a plastic bin or trash can clearly labeled with an "X" or the word "RECYCLE." Stickers that can be placed on containers to designate them as for recycling can also be found at many government offices around Baltimore County (they are free of charge).

Single-stream recycling takes effect for Baltimore County on February 1, 2010. County residents should look for a new trash/recycling collection schedule in the mailboxes soon. While the steps required to recycle an item have changed a bit, the switch to single-stream recycling should ultimately make the process much more convenient for residents of Baltimore County. For more information about recycling in Baltimore County, visit the website listed in the resources section of this article.