JOSH DAVIS/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Based on a Town Council vote Monday night, the town will do away with separate recycling collections containers on William Street. Instead, a new collection center will be based at Berlin Falls Park on Old Ocean City Boulevard using a single container said to save money on labor.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Oct. 25, 2018) The Town of Berlin will switch to “single stream” recycling and move its collection facility from William Street to Berlin Falls Park, starting Nov. 5.

The Town Council on Monday authorized a $2,773.33 contract with Republic Services to facilitate the change. The contract included a one-time $112 charge.

Single stream refers to recycling collections from a single container, rather than several containers separated by paper, plastic, metals, and other materials.

Public Works Superintendent Dave Wheaton said Monday so much recycling is received that it often creates a mess at the current William Street collection facility. He said it’s not uncommon for town workers to spend an entire day sorting through and cleaning up materials.

“With the single stream, everything – cardboard, plastic, everything – goes in one dumpster. The garbage company comes and takes it … and the garbage company separates it,” Wheaton said. “Other than cleaning up, we’ll have virtually no manpower.

“On days where we have a holiday on Monday, we always have to call people in to clean all that up. Boy, that’s a lot of overtime!” he continued. “If we could try the single stream, I think we might find … it may be cheaper.”

Mayor Gee Williams said the current collection facility outside the municipal power plant on William Street would be moved to the former Rayne’s Sand & Gravel building on Old Ocean City Boulevard, which is now technically part of Berlin Falls park. Signs at the old facility will point to the new one.

Williams said the change in services was both responsive and proactive.

“I appreciate you coming up with a great solution,” he said. “Recycling keeps changing. It’s not what it was in the 90s and then it changed again a few years ago and now it’s changing again.”

The Town Council unanimously approved the Republic Services contract.