what is single stream recycling?

Single Stream RecyclingBrown-Outagamie-Winnebago Counties

City of Oshkosh Common Council , June 10, 2008

What is Single Stream Recycling?

At the curb:

place all recyclables including paper fiber & food-beverage containers together for collection

(normally in a cart or bin)

Cart

Bin

Why ConsiderSingle Stream Recycling?

Because of benefitssingle stream is the nationwide trend

Single stream already in Wisconsin

Local municipalities have been requesting

single stream

Single Stream

Collection Benefits

Liked by municipalities & households:

• Easier - more convenient - no separation

• Allows collection methods to be upgraded to automated pickup with carts

• Cleaner neighborhoods if material is collected with a cart

Automated Collection is Proven & Efficient

City of Menasha in Winnebago CountyCity of Appleton and Various Townships in Outagamie

Benefits of Automated Collection

• Fewer personnel

• Improved worker safety

• Reduced workman’s comp

• Larger workforce available

Challenges of Automated Collection

• Higher initial purchase price and maintenance expenses for trucks

• Cart purchase cost/charge to resident?

• Re-education on ‘how and when to recycle’

• Cart size fixed- overflow recyclables

• Access restrictions to carts in narrow streets or where blocked by parked cars

Single Stream

Processing Benefits• Consolidate recycling

facilities from 2 to 1(3 in 1993 > 2 in 2003 > 1 in 2009)

• Avoid spending $2 million to replace worn out equipment

• Invest in future with new technology

New Single Stream Technologies

Single StreamProcessing Facility

• Capital cost $8 million (preliminary)

– Avoid spending $2 million on old technology

– Incremental $6 million will provide modern equipment with strategic value

– Cost shared between 3 Counties

• Single stream processing estimated cost same as or less than dual stream

Single Stream

Glass/Paper Contamination

• Significant issue for counties due to strong paper mill industry in NE WI

• Met with reps from SCA Tissue & Georgia Pacific

• Already buy paper from single stream sources

• Mills: good MRFs and bad MRFs, regardless of single or dual stream status

• Counties will be building, operating & maintaining the MRF; paper quality completely within the Counties’ control

Now

(tonnages depend upon municipalities receiving services desired)

Single Stream

Other Benefits

Increased recycling(save natural resources)

(10-30% is common)

Decreased landfilling(save landfill space)

Single Stream Recycling

Landfilling

Single Stream

Other Benefits

Keep Tri-County Partnership strong for over 60 municipalities

Keep municipality costs down

Allows for maximum collection flexibility

Conclusions

Single Stream Processing• More tonnage will be retained

• Processing cost per ton will remain the same or decrease

• Strong system

• Likely viable beyond 10 years

Dual Stream Processing• Tonnage will decline

• Processing cost per ton will likely increase

• Weak & declining system

• Likely not viable beyond 5 or 10 years

Single or Dual Stream Collection• Each WC community can choose

collection method best suited for them.

• For automated collection, carts cost approx. $50 ea.

• Winnebago County do large volume procurement?

• Winnebago Co recently rebated $200,047; could be used for single stream carts.

• Phase out of ‘blue bags’ with development of single stream processing facility.

City of Madison Cart Distribution

Phasing Out Blue Bags:Cut Costs and Reduce Waste

• Residents save money in not having to buy one time use bags

• County saves money in not having to employ inmate labor to de-bag material, provide safety supplies to inmates, maintain de-bag line, transport bags to Landfill and Landfill tip fees

• These cost savings passed to municipalities via reduced recycling tip fees (estimated to be approx. $2.50/ton)

• Increases space at Transfer Station for other materials (electronic rcy, trash when landfill closes)

• Bags cannot be recycled (waste)

• Bags incompatible with single stream

processing

Single Stream Processing Facility

• All 3 Counties received necessary approvals to proceed in Dec. 2007/Jan. 2008

• Will be located at the present Outagamie County Recycling Facility, Appleton, WI

• Existing building will be expanded.

• Existing dual stream processing equipment will be either reused or sold and removed.

Preliminary Schedule

• July 2008: begin construction

• Sept 2008-Jan 2009: equipment

delivery, installation

• Feb/Mar 2009: construction complete; begin start-up, testing and training

• By July 1, 2009 begin full-scale operation

Questions?

Jennifer SemrauRecycling Specialist

jsemrau@co.winnebago.wi.us(920) 232-1853

John RabeDirector, Solid Waste

jrabe@co.winnebago.wi.us(920) 232-1805