City to start recycling changes in the new year Mixed paper to be added to newspaper bundles; cardboard separate BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer LONG BRANCH - The city's Department of Public Works (DPW) will start a new recycling garbage schedule Jan. 1 for residences and businesses in the municipality. As part of the changes, all paper products will be collected from businesses and residents south of Broadway on Monday and north of Broadway on Tuesday. The paper products include newspapers, cardboard, magazines, unwanted junk-mail brochures or advertisements, cereal boxes, phone books, paper bags, office paper and all other miscellaneous paper not used for food services, according to DPW Director Fred Migliaccio. "There will be no changes geographically and the services will be the same," Migliaccio said last week. "Currently, paper has to be separated, such as office paper versus newspapers. "Now, everything will be mixed together," he said, adding, "It's easier for the residents." The changes in garbage pickup will only affect recycled garbage, according to Migliaccio, who said regular curbside garbage will remain the same throughout the city. "We made recycling changes so that we can use the same truck," Migliaccio said. "It allows for a one-shot pickup," rather than spread the paper pickup services throughout the entire week. Mixed paper will now be added to newspaper bundles, cross-tied together and placed at the designated location for the collection, Migliaccio said. Cardboard will be flattened and crosstied together separately into 50-pound bundles, he said, adding that paper will not be mixed with any plastic or metal garbage. There will no longer be paper pickup on Thursdays and Fridays, Migliaccio said. All businesses and residences are also required to recycle commingled cans, glass and plastic bottles, according to Migliaccio. He explained that there will be no change in the day the commingled recyclables are picked up for residences, but there will be a change for businesses. All commingled cans, glass and plastic bottles will be recycled together and collected from businesses and residences south of Broadway on Thursday and north of Broadway on Friday. Migliaccio explained that the current collection schedule calls for commingled glass, plastic and cans to be picked up from businesses on Monday and from residences on Thursday and Friday. Migliaccio sent a letter to city residences and businesses on Nov. 13 to explain the changes. "Please be advised that the mayor and council of the city of Long Branch have recently adopted new provisions to modify the existing regulations for municipal recyclable collection services provided by the city," Migliaccio wrote. "The purpose of this communication is to provide you with advance notice that some collection route changes will be taking effect as of Jan. 1, 2008," he wrote. City residents and business owners with identification may drop off recyclable paper or commingled cans, bottles and plastic at the public works recycle yard on Atlantic Avenue, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. or on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call the DPW office at (732) 571-6520 or visit www.visitlongbranch. com.