Get An ‘Oops!’ Recycling Sticker In Hoboken? Here’s What It Means

HOBOKEN, NJ — The City of Hoboken has switched over to a dual-stream system of recycling. But what does that mean for local residents and their everyday routines?

On Monday, city officials reminded residents that enforcement of Hoboken’s new recycling policies will begin later this week.

Property owners who don’t follow the correct procedures will receive a neon-green “OOPS!” sticker on bags or items that are not recycled correctly. The city’s recycling hauler will leave any bag or recycling container with the neon-green sticker at the curb. Residents will need to address the recycling issue identified on the sticker, then put the recycling out again correctly on the next recycling date.

Here’s a brief summary about the new policy, according to city officials:

“As a reminder, the City of Hoboken has switched over to a dual-stream system of recycling, which separates comingled (aluminum, glass and plastics numbered 1, 2 and 5) from paper and cardboard. Comingled recycling must be empty, clean and dry and placed at the curb in blue covered bins or clear bags on Monday nights. Paper recycling (paper, cardboard) must be flattened, then placed at the curb in blue covered bins, tied with string, or secured inside other boxes on Thursday nights.”

Plastic bags and Styrofoam products are not recyclable, city officials reminded residents.

• See related article: Hoboken Bans Styrofoam In Businesses, Adds Bite To Bag Embargo

Why does it matter how you throw away recyclables? According to officials:

“The switch to dual-stream recycling, as opposed to single-stream recycling, will help reduce the city’s share of landfill waste, and is the latest initiative in Hoboken’s Climate Action Plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Hoboken’s previous single-stream recycling process results in only one-third of all waste in Hoboken being recycled. Previous to 2012, Hoboken utilized a dual-stream recycling system. The switch could also save taxpayers $200,000 in recycling costs per year.”

More information is available at http://www.hobokennj.gov/recycling. Hoboken's Recycling Coordinator is available to answer any questions at 201.420.2000 x4000 or dcalamoneri@hobokennj.gov.

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