By: Najla Alexander
Middlesex County officials announced that 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, MCPO officials say. 
Middlesex County authorities said 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, accoridng to Middlesex County officials.
“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 look forward to working with Interstate Waste Services, a trusted name in waste management,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Chanelle Scott McCullum.
“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, Middlesex County authorities stated. 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.
MCPO officials said recycling coordinators 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, Middlesex County authorities say. 
According to Middlesex County officials, 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, MCPO officials said. For more information, please visit www.mciauth.com.