In other words, the mayor and other city officials want citizens to engage fully in the city's recycling program, which received an added boost by becoming what's called "single stream," Nutter announced.

"We are going to take recycling in a way not experienced in this city in the past," Nutter said in City Hall alongside Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler and Streets Commissioner Clarena Tolson. "Starting today, single-stream recycling is a reality in Philadelphia.

"All recyclables can now go in one bin."

For residents, that means the end of multiple bins lining the streets, one containing glass, the other plastic and maybe yet another containing paper and cardboard.

Even better, the city will provide collection bins. They will be available at more than 125 neighborhood recreation centers and at one of the city's seven sanitation depots.

If they want, residents can use their own bins and the city will provide stickers to identify them as recycling containers.

"Philadelphia is now the largest East Coast city with single-stream recycling," Nutter said to applause from more than 100 people who packed the room. "This is a prime recycling city, and we made it easy to recycle; glass, metal and mixed paper can all go in together."

"Recycling is good for us," Tolson added, noting that in January, curbside pick-up of recyclable goods will happen weekly, as opposed to every other week now. *