Harford County’s 59 percent recycling participation rating has increased 40 percent since its first full year of running a single-stream program, starting in 2011.

With the dramatic increase, officials say the county the second highest participation rates in Maryland, trailing only Montgomery County.

“We can out-do them.  Let’s make that a goal,” Council President Billy Boniface said Jan. 17 after viewing a presentation on the recycling program.

The county-wide recycling program takes in materials from the street at no charge.

“It does my heart good driving through the community and seeing the recycling bins so big and the trash bins so small,” Council Member Mary Ann Lisanti added.