SINGLE-STREAM RECYCLING: THE LOWER COST ALTERNATIVE

Municipal Savings:

• Dramatic cost decrease when switching from multi-stream to single-stream
• Single-stream recycling reduces waste considerably
• Expensive processing facilities are eliminated, less equipment needed
• The only requirement is a simple, low maintenance regional transfer facility.
• Lower tonnage at the landfill translates into significant savings
• Low density populated areas can consider establishing a recycling program

Fleet Efficiency

• Eliminating curbside “stop and sort” means more stops per hour
• Existing waste hauling fleet, split body or packer trucks can be used
• Heavier loads means less trips to MRF, trucks are used more efficiently
• Fleets are maximized, lower fuel cost reducing environmental damage
• Small haulers can compete for contracts
• Single-stream is safer for drivers who don’t have to lift bins several hundred times a day.

Household ease of use

• Family members simply toss all their recyclables into one container
• Blue boxes, recycling carts or clear plastic bags can be used
• Use of the recycling cart helps divert more recyclable materials from the trash
• More categories of material are accepted, everything is collected at one time
• Volume is effortlessly increased due to simplicity and convenience.

Stages of the process

• Community collects all recyclables mixed together
• The recycling truck picks up at the curb and goes to a local transfer station.
• The material is then packed into a regular van which goes to a highly mechanized recycling center.
• Loads are processed; fiber, plastic, metal and glass are sorted, baled and sold to various well established end markets.
• Injection grade plastics #3 to #7 go to Haycore’s facility for grinding
• Post consumer flake is sold to various manufacturers of finished goods.

Material accepted

• Fiber: newsprint, cardboard, boxboard, office mix, gable top, etc
• Metal: steel and aluminum cans
• Glass: clear and colored container glass
• 1 to 7 plastics: plastic bottles and containers, grocery bags