The Board of Directors at Regional Waste Systems has switched from a three-stream to a two-stream recycling system, making curbside collection more efficient for haulers and recycling easier for area residents.

The RWS Board at its April 21 meeting unanimously endorsed a recommendation from the board’s Recycling Committee to allow newspaper/mixed paper and cardboard to be mixed together.

The change means private and municipal haulers who collect the material will now only need to make two separations rather than three when sorting at the curb. It also results in two dumps, rather than three dumps, at the RWS Recycling Center, allowing them to get back on their collection routes quicker. Residents also will be able to sort less, making them more apt to participate in recycling.

Board Chairman James Cloutier praised the Recycling Committee, led by Chairwoman Susan McGinty of Cumberland, for putting together a plan that makes sense to all parties. Other members of the Recycling Committee include Carol Fritz of Cape Elizabeth, Linda Boudreau of South Portland, Willis Lord of Waterboro, Len VanGaasbeek of Hollis/Limington, Troy Moon of Portland, Tony Hayes of Falmouth, and John Boyden of Windham.

The newspaper and cardboard will still need to be processed at RWS before it can be sold on the open market. RWS recently enlisted a labor crew from the Cumberland County Jail to assist in this effort on an ongoing basis at no cost to RWS.

RWS is a non-profit solid waste management corporation that is owned and operated by 21 cities and towns (Bridgton, Cape Elizabeth, Casco, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Gorham, Gray, Harrison, Hollis, Limington, Lyman, North Yarmouth, Ogunquit, Portland, Pownal, Scarborough, South Portland, Waterboro, Windham and Yarmouth), and also has six associate member towns (Baldwin, Hiram, Naples, Parsonsfield, Porter and Standish.) For more information, visit www.regionalwaste.org