For Immediate Release:
 June 30, 2009

Media Contact:
Gayle R. Love
loveg@miamidade.gov
 305-514-6607
305-297-1857



Miami-Dade Celebrates First Anniversary of Single-Stream Recycling Program

Successful program doubles Miami-Dade’s recycling during first year


(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- In one short year, Miami-Dade County’s new curbside recycling program has been so successful that the County is now recovering nearly twice the amount of recyclable materials it did under the old program.  The County’s new single-stream recycling program celebrates its one-year anniversary June 30th. 

“Residents can now simply place all of their recyclables into one cart, unlike the old dual-stream program where they had to separate recyclables into two different bins,” said Solid Waste Director Kathleen Woods-Richardson.  “The result of simplifying our recycling program into a ‘single stream’ is that our residents have responded by recycling almost double the tonnage of materials as they did under the old program.”  The new single-stream recycling program boasts more than 41 thousand tons collected from its inception June 30, 2008 through May 31, 2009. 

The distinctive blue carts for the new recycling program are considerably larger than the old bins—65 gallons compared to 18 gallons—but they’re wheeled for convenience and include lids to keep all recyclables dry.  Under the new single-stream program, residents no longer have to separate their recyclable items.  They can fill the new containers with flattened cardboard boxes, glass jars and containers, narrow-necked plastic bottles, newspapers, magazines and more. 

More than 340,000 Miami-Dade households in the Department of Solid Waste Management’s service area and 11 municipalities participate in the new recycling program, making it one of the largest single-stream curbside recycling programs in the United States. 

“We’ve done our part by making recycling easier, and our residents have done their part in helping to protect our environment by participating enthusiastically in our new recycling program,” said Mrs. Woods-Richardson.  “Together we can help preserve our natural resources and keep Miami-Dade beautiful.” 

For more information about the single-stream recycling program or any of the other services provided by the Miami-Dade Department of Solid Waste Management, visit www.miamidade.gov/dswm or call 3-1-1. 
 

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SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT