One month into a new single-stream recycling program, Baltimore experienced a modest gain in the amount of material being collected and hopes to see steady growth into this year, public works officials said yesterday.
Single-stream recycling, which started Jan. 8 in Baltimore, lets residents place all recyclable material into one bin to be collected on the same day. Under the old system, the city picked up paper and other types of recyclables on alternating weeks.
Valentina Ukwuoma, head of the solid waste bureau of the Department of Public Works, said the city collected 50 tons more recyclable material in January than it did in January 2007 - a roughly 4.5 percent increase.
"It is a successful launch," Ukwuoma said. "We've noticed a little bit of an increase. We are kind of cautious and optimistic that" collection will continue to grow.
Ukwuoma stressed that residents do not need a bin from the city to take part in the program and that they can place recycables in any container as long as it is labeled "recycling." Residents may no longer put out blue bags.
Other Maryland counties, including Anne Arundel, Carroll and Howard, use single-stream recycling. Last year, Howard County officials said that since they adopted the system they have seen a roughly 7 percent increase in material collected.
Single-stream recycling bins are available for purchase from the Baltimore Department of Public Works at the city's yard at 111 Kane St., across from Patterson High School.