Single Stream Recycling

1. SWANA – Keystone Chapter
Eleventh Annual Fall Conference
Single Stream Recycling

2. Introduction:
Greg Grudovich
Municipal Marketing Representative
WM Recycle America
4555 Mt Pisgah Rd.
York, PA 17402
(717) 246-2980
GGrudovi@wm.com

3. About WM Recycle America
Waste Management Recycle America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Waste
•
Management.
WMRA operates approximately 100 Recycling facilities in the United States,
•
of those, 33 do Single Stream processing.
We currently handle more than 8 million tons of commodities annually
•
through our nation-wide network of MRFs and material sales services.
A large percentage of our residential recycling customers are serviced with
•
single stream collection.

4. Processing
WM processes nearly 5.5 million tons of
standard recyclables each year - more material
than any other company in North America.

5. Environmental Savings
Processing 5.5 million tons of material EQUALS:
Green house gas reductions equivalent to taking more
than 2.5 million cars off of the road each year
The energy used by more than 800,000 households each
year – more than all of the households in most cities
Saving more than 41million trees

6. Some Facts: York Material Recovery Facility (MRF)
MRF classification: Single Stream.
Number of Employees: 30.
Total tonnage processed:
65,000 tons annually.
•
250 tons per day.
•
23 tons per hour.
•
Approximately 17 acres.
Age of facility: 19 years.
The year the site became a true single-stream facility. 2002.
Servicing both commercial and municipal clients.
Number of municipalities served: 63.
.

7. Single-Stream Recycling
The following materials are accepted and can be mixed together in your recycling bin!
•Aluminum food and beverage containers with food debris removed. Labels do not need to be
removed.
•Glass food and beverage containers with lids and food debris removed: Clear, Brown Green.
Labels do not have to be removed.
•Natural and pigmented plastic narrow-neck containers with symbols 1-7 Lids and food debris
removed. Labels do not have to be removed.
•Ferrous Metals (Iron, steel, tin) cans with food debris removed.
•Newsprint – black and white or pigmented. Not bound or placed in bags.
•Construction paper, Kraft paper, cereal Boxes, shoe boxes, or similar.
•Printer paper, computer paper, copy paper, junk mail, magazines, catalogs, phone books.
•Corrugated cardboard that is small enough to fit into the bin/toter and not bound.

8. A Short List of What is Not Accepted:
•Wax coated paper or cardboard.
•Any material with food debris.
•Plastic Bags of any kind.
•Batteries of any kind.
•Styrofoam of any kind.
•Light bulbs.
•Mirrors, window or auto glass, porcelain, ceramics, glass cookware/bake ware, microwave oven trays,
drinking glasses, perfume/cologne bottles.
•Wood or Yard Waste.
•Unnumbered plastics.
•Coat hangers, Wire.
•Household items such as toasters, cookware, bake ware, electronics, appliances, etc.
•Hazardous or toxic substances, aerosol cans.
•Items containing or having debris and residue containing hazardous or toxic substances such as paint
cans with wet paint, motor oil containers, gasoline cans, glue, petroleum products, etc.

9. Where We Were v. Where We Are

10. What Is Single Stream Recycling?
Simply stated, all recyclables
are placed in a single
container for collection
(business & residential).
The recyclables are later
sorted at the MRF for
separation, baling, and direct
shipping to the mills.

11. Single Stream Recycling
YES!
All in the
same
container!

12. The Mechanics of a Single Stream Facility
Material is conveyed through a
•
series of screens (stars) to first
remove fibers.
“Human hands” then remove
•
cardboard and provide Quality
Control.

13. The Mechanics of a Single Stream Facility
Commingle is moved to another area
•
of plant where magnets, optical
sorting and additional screens
further separate aluminum, tin, glass
and plastic containers.

14. The Mechanics of a Single Stream Facility
Bales are created of various
•
commodities (finished goods)
and moved to shipping.

15. The Mechanics of a Single Stream MRF
Separated Commodities are held in individual bunkers and
later made into bales for shipping:
Baler
Shipping
Material is separated and removed from the stream by
commodity:
1st Paper is removed using paper screens.
2nd Ferrous Metals are removed with magnets.
3rd Glass is removed by crushing and gravity.
Tip Floor
4th Plastics are removed utilizing optical sorters / air jets.
5th Aluminum is removed with an eddie-current magnet.
6th Residue is re-circulated and ultimately land-filled.

16. System Considerations
Increased Diversion Efforts = Increasing the Complexity of
•
Processing Systems.
Fairly Rapid Pace of Technology Innovation in Processing
•
Equipment
Future Changes in Composition.
•
Multi-Stream Blend Capabilities.
•
End Market Flexibility.
•
Volume Growth.
•
Flexibility: Sorting, Expansion, Technology.
•

17. Regional Approach Hub & Spoke
Model
Curbside Collection
Transfer Stations Baling Systems
Single Stream MRF
Landfill Operations

18. Advantages of Single Stream Recycling:
For the Resident
• Higher participation rates due to simplicity and convenience afforded
the customer (10% - 30%). (One bin is easier than two)
• Improved aesthetics and convenience.
• Making recycling economical and sustainable.
• Allows for larger containers and toters/carts:
• Provides for even greater participation.
• Rolling container adds convenience.
• Container lid keeps materials dry.
• Enhances processing - Increases value to end markets.
• Carts allow for bulkier materials to be collected such as OCC.
• Possible to go to every other week collection.
• Deters scavenging.

19. Advantages of Single Stream Recycling:
For the MSW Hauler
• Reduced carbon footprint for the MSW hauler.
• Reduced hauler unit costs:
• Number of stops.
• Number of trucks on the street.
• Trips to the MRF.
• Average Savings of 10-30%
• Reduced safety risks for collection employees.
• Common Trucks for Garbage and Recycling.
• Better control over expenditures such as Spare part stocking.
• Reduced Training Requirements for Drivers and Mechanics.
• Increased Route Productivity (No sorting, improved labor rhythm.

20. Advantages of Single Stream Recycling:
For the MRF Employee
• Reduced MRF employee safety risks.
• Reduced total recordable incidence and accidence rates.
• Reduced employee turnover.
• Reduced worker compensation rates.

21. Advantages of Single Stream Recycling:
For the Municipality
• Greater residential participation.
• 10-30%.
• Higher material recovery rates (20-30%).
• Lower Facility Residue Disposal Rate: 6% or less in York.
• More potential for PADEP Grant Money.

22. Single Stream Recycling:
Stream Composition Test
LCSWA 50
Supplier: tk#
1/1706
Date Rec'd
Date Tested 1/18 & 1/19/2007
56,760
Gross Wt.
45,400
Tare Wt.
11,360
Net Wt.
11,340
Total Weight Sampled
Total Product Weight 2340.0 lbs
PET / HDPE YIELD %: 20.63%
Total Product Weight 503.8 lbs
Bi-Metal YIELD %: 4.44%
Total Product Weight 89.8 lbs
ONP YIELD %: 0.79%
Total Product Weight 90.5 lbs
Aluminum YIELD %: 0.80%
Total Product Weight 7960.0 lbs
3-mix glass YIELD %: 70.19%
Total Residue Weight 356.0 lbs
Trash- Out throws YIELD %: 3.14%
Weight Reconciliation
Commodity Weight 3024.0 26.67%
70.19% -$$$
3-mix glass Weight 7960.0
3.14% -$$$
Residue Weight 356
Total 11340.0 100.00%
Comments:
Res idue - siding/door extrusion/electric appliance (fan, house radios ,) /s hoes /rope/burlap/toys/pipe/plastic bags
Some OCC mixed in
Note: Weight discrepancy due to handling and sort

23. Recycling Benefits Everyone!
Thank You

24. Q&A