Single Stream Recycling Will Be Available in all Residences by Oct. 1

Single stream recycling will be available in nearly all residential properties in Baltimore County by Oct. 1.

The 237,000 single-family and townhomes that comprise the county have been given access to single stream pick-up once a week since Feb. 1. Apartments and condominiums will have to decide by the end of the month whether they want to participate in the program.

The catch is that if they opt out, the responsibility of trash collection will fall on the apartments and condos themselves. There are currently 81,000 multi-family units in the county.

Single stream recycling is a collection process in which recyclable materials like plastic, glass and paper can be mixed together. 

Charlie Reighart, Baltimore County recycling and waste prevention manager, says that most apartments will sign-up because of two reasons: financial common sense and competitor influence.

Apartment complexes do not want to have to pay for an alternative trash collector, nor do they want to fall behind with what their competitors can offer tenants.

"We will have made it very convenient for [apartments]," Reighart said. "Having said that, at this time it's not mandatory that individuals will participate. There's always room for improvement."

Since Feb. 1 the county has collected 26,017 tons of recyclable material, which is a 31 percent increase, according to Reighart. Baltimore County pays $55 per ton for trash disposal.

Last week, the Bureau of Solid Waste was honored with an Executive Citation for its recycling efforts.

"The whole county has seen a drop in trash and an upsweep in recycling," said Baltimore County spokeswoman Marjorie Hampson.  "Our landfills are filling up and we're running out of space."