Putting bottles and cans in one bag, newspapers in another, and other papers in the regular trash will be a thing of the past in Pittsburgh, starting Monday.

That's when expanded and simplified recycling goes citywide, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration announced yesterday. Glass, metal, newspaper, office paper, magazines, mail and phone books will all go to the curb in blue bags, with no sorting required.

Only cardboard will still need to be separated out. Boxes should be broken down and preferably tied with twine.

Simplified recycling started between the rivers in January. Nearly 10 percent more households in those neighborhoods began recycling, according to city recycling supervisor Shawn Wigle.

Citywide, the tonnage of recyclable materials collected is up 30 percent over last year, because of the increase in participation and in awareness efforts, he said.

That's good for city government, which gets $46.46 a ton for all recyclables, and projects $700,000 in receipts this year, plus savings of $200,000 through lower landfill fees.

"All three black-and-gold teams are now recycling," said Mr. Ravenstahl, thanks to recycling bins at their venues. Next year, the administration plans to put recycling bins in the city's business districts.

The materials go to Greenstar North America, a Houston-based firm that now operates seven locations in this state, and they are distributed globally to commodities buyers.