Boston Kicks Off First Single-Stream Recycling Program

Boston began its first single-stream recycling program on July 1. With the new system, residents will no longer have to separate paper, plastic and other recyclables. According to city officials, this is expected to save the city an estimated $1 million annually.

"Recycling is one of the easiest steps individuals can take to both improve our environment and reduce costs of waste disposal," said Jim Hunt, chief of Environmental Services for Boston. Photo: Boston.com

The reason for the savings is due to accessibility. The easier recycling is, the more residents will be apt to do it. According to officials, more recycling will translate into more cost savings.

Boston’s environmental services team says it is about $40 less expensive to recycle a ton of waste rather than to send it to a landfill or burn it in an incinerator. Furthermore, using recycled goods rather than virgin to create new products saves both money and energy.

Within the next year, residents will receive the new 64-gallon wheeled bin that will be used to recycle materials including paper, plastics, glass and cardboard. Jamaica Plain and Roxbury residents will be the first to receive these bins.

Boston officials are optimistic about the new program after a pilot program from May 2007 to July 2008 showed a 50 percent increase in recycling.

“This single-stream recycling program is key to Boston’s sustainability and is a great example of how we are thinking creatively to make sure Boston’s future is bright despite the difficult economic times we’re facing,” says Mayor Menino. “This program makes recycling easier for residents to help the environment.”