Recycling can be hard to figure out and seems to be ever-changing. Fortunately, there’s an app for that.

Most Princeton residents participate in a recycling program overseen by the Mercer County Improvement Authority. Here’s how to find the latest on Mercer County’s residential curbside recycling program:

• Get the app. Download the Recycle Coach app to your smartphone, enter your home address, and get answers to all of your curbside recycling questions.
• What goes where? For an online version, bookmark this link, enter your township, and then ask away.
• Printable list: Here’s a list of acceptable recyclables to tack on your bulletin board.

• Respect the rules. Unfortunately, recycling rules vary for different regions. Businesses, schools, and apartment complexes commonly use different recycling contractors that may have different rules. When you are out and about, don’t assume the rules  — ask and encourage managers to provide clear signage.
• Stay informed. As markets shift, so does the recyling industry. Check these sources frequently to ensure you are aware of the current rules.
• Missed recycling collection? Report residential recycling disruptions through Mercer County Improvement Authority’s web portal.

We all wish we could recycle more, but wishful recycling does more harm than good. Non-recyclables drive up the cost of sorting and plastic bags clog the machinery. If there is too much contamination, recyclers may discard the entire truckload.

Please ensure you are only adding acceptable materials to your curbside recycling bin, and help educate your neighbors.

• NJ was first.  Woodbury, NJ was the first city to mandate curbside residential recycling in 1980, leading to a 1987 law that mandated recycling throughout New Jersey. 
• Counties handle it. Current state law dictates that counties manage recycling programs and waste disposal. For Mercer County, that role is filled by the Mercer County Improvement Authority.
• Why recycle? Business owners take note: recycling has environmental benefits as well as economic advantages due to a reduction in landfill disposal costs.

What we buy matters. Recycling is important, but the majority of carbon emissions are generated before we even purchase an item. Learn more.

We can do better. Mercer County’s 2013 Waste Characterization report shows that our landfill contributions could be reduced with broader recycling participation.