Beginning September 9, the city of Hoboken, N.J., will change to a dual stream recycling system that separates aluminum, glass and plastics from paper. The switch aims to help increase recycling in Hoboken, reduce the city’s share of landfill waste and could save taxpayers $200,000 in recycling costs per year.
Recycling will be collected on Monday and Thursday nights, with comingled recycling (aluminum, glass, plastics Nos. 1, 2 and 5) collected on Monday nights. Paper recycling, which includes cardboard, will be collected on Thursday nights.
The switch to dual stream recycling and to reduce Hoboken’s contribution to additional landfill waste is the latest initiative in Hoboken’s Climate Action Plan launched by Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and exceed the goals of the Paris Agreement. Currently, Hoboken’s single stream recycling process results in only a third of all waste in Hoboken being recycled.
The city reminds residents that comingled recycling must be clean, dry and should be placed in blue covered bins. Paper recycling must be clean, dry, flattened and bundled in cardboard boxes or tied with string and should not be placed outside during rain. Plastic bags and Styrofoam are not to be placed in recycling bins. In addition, glass bottles will be collected on Thursday nights in the city’s limited business area.
In addition to becoming the latest initiative in Hoboken’s Climate Action Plan, dual stream recycling is another way Hoboken says it is keeping the streets and sidewalks clean from litter and pollution. The city recently passed new regulations banning all carryout plastic bags and single-use Styrofoam products, sponsored free “Adopt-a-Pet Waste Stations” for Hoboken property owners and implemented more than 80 new, modernized "H" trash and recycling cans with covers.