The new program accepts more materials, such as junk mail, computer paper, paperboard from cereal boxes and corrugated cardboard. Recyclers also no longer have to separate different paper products.

The city spends about $1.8 million a year to provide recycling.

About 1,000 tons of recyclable materials are brought into Rumpke each month, and officials expect that number to go way up.

"Just by adding the additional materials, we could see a 5 to 10 percent increase," Rumpke spokeswoman Amanda Wilson said. "And the easier you make it on people, the more they'll do it. So this is definitely going to have a very positive impact."

Rumpke also is launching a program to tell people about the benefits of recycling, and to let Cincinnati residents know they can get a bin free by calling 242-4600.

The recycling program is important to Hamilton County because Ohio law requires it to produce a plan to reduce the amount of waste going into landfills.

The city's curbside program is a cornerstone of the county's plan.

Recycling also affects the local economy; more than 100 people have jobs at Rumpke related to recycling, ranging from truck drivers to operations managers and people who sort out unacceptable materials on the conveyor belts.

E-mail dklepal@enquirer.com