After years of debate, Westbrook will institute a new, single-stream recycling system next week, where residents can unload all their recyclables into a single slot.

Without the need to separate items by material type, and with the addition of corrugated cardboard as an acceptable material to be dropped into the bins, the city hopes to see its recycling rate increase 4 percent, bringing the residential recycling rate up to 10 percent.

“Recycling should be a lot easier,” said Tom Eldridge, director of public services.

Pine Tree Waste is in the process of readying the bins, and the full program will be rolled out next week.

“We anticipate this will reduce spending,” City Administrator Jerre Bryant said. The reduced weight of city-collected residential trash will save the city more money the more residents recycle.

Currently there are three locations to drop off residential recycling: the armory on Stroudwater Street, the municipal parking lot off Mechanic Street and at Prides Corner Church on Pride Street. The city is looking for a fourth location, but Eldridge said it’s not easy finding a location because businesses don’t want the mess near them.

“You get a lot of dumping,” Eldridge said. The drop-off locations are unattended, and often people will leave materials that they either don’t want to bring to the dump, or that weren’t on the signs as recyclable materials.

“We certainly ask for the cooperation of the community,” Eldridge said.

In addition to dumping, there are some problems with residents of neighboring communities and of local businesses using the bins. Eldridge said the recycling program is for Westbrook residents’ household recyclables only.

The program is being rolled out after Mayor Bruce Chuluda earlier this month vetoed a part of the budget that would have implemented a voluntary curb-side recycling program. The council has previously rejected an incentive based, pay-per-bag trash pick-up and curb-side recycling program recommended by a citizen committee.