MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ—The Middlesex County Improvement Authority (MCIA) has awarded Interstate Waste Services (IWS) a new curbside recycling contract for three years beginning April 1, 2025, with two one-year optional extensions. This significant agreement includes a fixed rate during the contract term, stabilizing local municipalities' recycling budgets for up to five years.
The contract also includes an Automatic Side Load (ASL) service and requires that the vendor supply all homeowners with new commercial-grade 95-gallon wheeled containers. Due to the process of ordering and delivering the new containers, the ASL service will be phased in over the first four months of the contract.
“The County’s regional strategy to provide county-wide services continues to provide great value to our municipalities,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “We are proud of the MCIA for continuously working on new ways to help municipalities improve the quality of life for our residents.”
“We look forward to working with Interstate Waste Services, a trusted name in waste management,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Chanelle Scott McCullum. “This new agreement will further promote the County's recycling and sustainability efforts and continues the MCIA's focus on delivery of cost-effective services for our municipalities, by making recycling processes more efficient and financially accessible for our municipalities.”
“This shared service provides municipalities cost savings in a turbulent marketplace by pooling our purchasing power while also freezing recycling rates for our partners for up to 5 years,” said MCIA Chairman James Nolan.
“We have long heard from many communities about their interest in having Automatic Side Loading (ASL) service with wheeled containers with lid,” said Executive Director H. James Polos. “ASL will provide more capacity and easier movement of the container for the homeowner and cleaner streets resulting from the large, enclosed container.”
For over a decade, curbside recycling has been a service the County offers through the MCIA to all municipalities. The MCIA is continually working on streamlining recycling across the County, including making the recycling program paperless and implementing GIS mapping for efficiency in pick-up routes. Recycling inspectors use tablets to remediate recycling issues and increase compliance through receiving emails and pictures. By integrating cutting-edge education and awareness programs into the MCIA’s recycling program, Middlesex County consistently has had one of the best recycling rates in New Jersey. These measures have enabled the MCIA to provide participating municipalities with stable and lower disposal costs than they could obtain independently.
Currently, 17 municipalities participate in the curbside recycling program. For more information, please visit www.mciauth.com.
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