One for All program designed to boost recycling in eastern Pennsylvania

Pictured, from left: Robert Bylone, Recycling Markets Center executive director; Steve Tucker, director of Lycoming County Resource Management Services; Jason Yorks, LCRMS Resource Recovery manager; acting DEP Secretary Dana Aunkst; and Lycoming County Commissioner Jeff Wheeland.

Lycoming County (Pennsylvania) Resource Management Services (LCRMS) has celebrated the grand opening of its $5.3 million single-stream material recovery facility (MRF) and the subsequent launch of a new regional recycling program called One for All. 

According to Jason Yorks, Lycoming County recycling coordinator, the new single-stream MRF will allow residents to recycle a wider range of recyclables, including Nos. 1 through 7 plastics and aseptic gable-top containers, such as juice and soup cartons.

The 60,000-square-foot MRf, which is adjacent to the Lycoming County Landfill in Montgomery, Pennsylvania, can sort and bale up to 20 tons per hour of comingled recyclables. The participating counties in northeastern Pennsylvania include Lycoming, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Union and Snyder counties. Officials say when the facility is running at full capacity it will be able to serve an even larger area.

“Single-stream shifts curbside pickup from the county to private business, which we feel will be a much more efficient system,” says Yorks.

Green Machine Sales, Hampstead, New Hampshire, manufactured and installed equipment, including magnets, screens and optical scanners, designed to sort the comingled recyclables. A grant from the Carton Council also helped to purchase equipment that will sort the aseptic gable top containers.

“This single-stream recycling initiative is truly an economic ‘win’ all around—for residents, haulers and Lycoming County,” says Lycoming County Commissioner Jeff Wheeland. “You can recycle more items more easily while saving money through this open-market competition model. This program is one more economic boon for our area, showcasing what good planning, partnership and stewardship is all about.”

In early 2014, LCRMS and the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College conducted a survey of residents in the region to gauge their knowledge and perception about single-stream recycling. The findings showed 76 percent in favor of the process for reasons that included convenience, simplicity and environmental responsibility. The majority of respondents also suggested they would recycle more frequently if the process was introduced and would switch waste haulers if another offered the service. In June of 2014, Lycoming County commissioners granted approval to site single-stream recycling equipment near the landfill.

“It simply makes good sense to support recycling and waste reduction efforts that are making a tremendous difference across the commonwealth,” says state Sen. Gene Yaw said. “The fact that this initiative both achieves those goals and adds convenience to our residents is highly commendable. I applaud the efforts of Lycoming County and their willingness to serve a larger region with this recycling/waste reduction initiative.”

Participating waste haulers will provide individual collection bins for homeowners. Those haulers will now pick up unsorted recyclable materials from residents’ homes and be paid by the county for the recyclables. Lycoming County’s 27 recycling drop-off sites also will continue to operate.

“With this new facility and program in place, we’ll now be able to preserve valuable landfill space, increase our capacity, have a more cost-effective, convenient way to recycle and hopefully improve local recycling participation,” Yorks said. “For residents, it’s a more convenient way to recycle, and for haulers, it’s an opportunity for business. We see it as a win-win.”