Huntington Supervisor Chad Lupinacci says taxpayers will save money as a result of the town going back to dual-stream recycling in the new year.

Turning recycled trash into treasure has become increasingly difficult and expensive for Long Island municipalities. China used to buy most of the world's recycled trash, including that from Long Island. But because of tariffs, trade wars and contaminated recycled waste, China has stopped accepting most of Long Island's throwaways.

As a result, towns like Huntington are going back to dual-stream recycling, meaning paper and cardboard are collected separately from glass and plastics.

Town officials say using the dual-stream method of collecting recyclables will cost less than throwing all recyclables in the same bucket. The single-stream method cost Huntington close to $1.5 million each year.

Currently, towns have to pay to have plastics and glass taken away, but money can be made on cardboard and paper as long as it is not contaminated -- liquids, soaps, food products and oils render the paper and cardboard useless.

The Town of Huntington wants residents to know what they can and cannot recycle. Pizza boxes, for example, are a definite no.

Gary Ford says despite the inconvenience of switching back to separating his family's recyclables, he is committed to the environment.

"I guess it is the right thing to do," he says.

The dual-stream goes into effect in Huntington on Jan. 1.