In continuing efforts to save taxpayers money, new Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and new Councilman Louis B. Imbroto today unveiled plans to transition Town recycling from dual-stream to single-stream – an initiative estimated to generate $2 million for taxpayers over the next five years. Since the beginning of local recycling efforts more than a decade ago, initiatives have cost taxpayers money rather than generate funds for the Town budget. That will no longer be the case!
Supervisor Saladino stated, “My administration is committed to freezing property taxes and is exploring every avenue to save taxpayers money. The hauling away of recycled materials costs taxpayers significant money in each year, when it could, and should be generating money for our efforts to hold the line on taxes. This new single-stream initiative is estimated to generate $2 million for residents – a win-win for taxpayers!”
In 2016, the Town of Oyster Bay utilized dual-stream recycling which cost taxpayers approximately $330,553 to haul away commingled glass, metal, and plastic while generating $239,088 in revenue from newspaper and mixed paper. Overall, the Town realized a net LOSS of $91,465 in 2016. Under Supervisor Saladino’s single-stream recycling initiative, the Town will generate approximately $343,295 in revenue in 2018 by entering into a contract with Winter Bros. Hauling of Long Island. This results in a net gain of $434,760 annually for taxpayers. Additionally, the Town will sell 22 recycling trucks no longer needed due to this single-stream recycling initiative, and generate up to $1 million in revenue for taxpayers from the sale of these vehicles.
“In addition to our consistent efforts to generate more savings for the Town, we’ve been hearing an outcry from our residents for cardboard recycling,” Councilman Imbroto said, adding that the environmental benefit is also significant. “Not only will single stream recycling result in significant savings, this new initiative will also result in a decrease in solid waste for the Town, which could generate even greater savings.”
On July 14, 2017, the Town of Oyster Bay solicited bid proposals for single-stream recycling. Three entities responded to the bid request and proposals were opened publicly for review. Winter Bros. Hauling of Long Island presented the Town with the most beneficial deal for taxpayers, and they are expected to be awarded at the Town Board’s August 15th meeting.
“Residents can begin to take advantage of the single stream program in mid-October, when the process gets underway,” Supervisor Saladino added. “Under this initiative, it will no longer be necessary to separate any recyclables. Residents can dispose of glass, plastics, paper and all types of cardboard in one container, to be picked up on their regular recycling collection day. This process eases the burden of sorting garbage and allows the Town to be more environmentally friendly while saving money.”
About Single-Stream Recycling:
Single-stream recycling is a system in which all recyclables, including newspaper, cardboard, plastic, aluminium, and junk mail are placed together in a bin for recycling by residents. These recyclables are collected in bulk by a single truck and taken to a Materials Recovery Facility to be sorted into various commodity streams for sale to markets, where it is processed into feedstock which can be used in the manufacture of new products.