AMESBURY — Beginning today, residents will see small changes in their trash and recycling pickup with the new contract going into place.

While trash and recycling will be collected on the same day as before, a few new accommodations and regulations will occur. Mayor Thatcher Kezer said a new curbside recycling program will be one of the biggest changes residents will see.

Recycling will now be "single-stream," allowing residents to put plastic, glass, paper, plastic and cardboard into one bin. Cardboard is also no longer required to be cut down.

"It was nice to be able to put all cardboard from the holidays into a single bin and not have to break anything down," Kezer said of his preparations for the new program. "It is much easier for people to put things into recycling."

When asked exactly what dimensions uncut cardboard could exceed, Kezer said he was not exactly sure. He cited anything that fits into the truck and is reasonable to handle.

Despite the new recycling program, residents are required to use their current 18-gallon blue bins until further notice. G. Mello Disposal Corp. will have until July 1 to provide residents with one free 65-gallon recycling bin.

Extra bins and recycling labels are available at Town Hall. Bins can be purchased for $5, and labels are free. Kezer said there is no limit to the number of labels residents are allowed.

"The comments are overwhelming on how much easier recycling will be," Kezer said.

G. Mello Disposal Corp. is working in conjunction with Integrated Paper Recyclers to provide the new curbside pickup. For each ton, the city is required to pay $66.50. For each ton, the town will receive a rebate of $10 per ton, plus more if the price goes above $90 a ton. Currently, the recycling market is flat — many companies that collect recycled items, like paper, say they are unable to sell it.

Another change is the number of barrels each resident is allotted weekly. Residences may now only leave three 35-gallon trash barrels or five trash bags for curbside pickup. Bags and barrels cannot exceed 50 pounds or the waste will be left uncollected. Residents used to be able to put out up to 10 barrels.

Kezer said multiple residences, such as apartment buildings, will be allowed three trash barrels or five trash bags for each family within the building.

White-goods and bulk-item disposal will still be available through the town. Each resident will be allowed one bulk item a week, and a white goods station will be set up at the current Elm Street leaf dump site.

White-goods items include washers, dryers, refrigerators, microwaves, air conditioners, freezers, stove/range, double ovens and dehumidifiers. Items may be dropped off at the Elm Street leaf dump the first Saturday of every month.

In the past, controversy has surrounded the current compost site located within the boundaries of the Mount Prospect Cemetery. Kezer said since a DPW worker already remains on-site for the leaf dump, a dual compost and white goods disposal area would be ideal.

By July 1 the vendor will have distributed bins at no cost. Blue bins can be purchased at Town Hall for $5, and recycling labels are free.

G. Mello Disposal Corp. has a Web site to answer further questions, http://www.mellodisposal.com/amesbury/