Michigan City Looks to Switch to Single Stream System

The city of Ann Arbor, Mich. is looking at introducing a single stream recycling program to replace its dual stream collection program the company presently has. Additionally, the program is looking at including a RecycleBank program along with the single stream system.

At the present time Ann Arbor operates a dual collection system that services roughly about 120,000 residents in the city.

Tom McMurtrie, solid waste coordinator for Ann Arbor, says that the initial meeting, held Oct. 12, was met with great interest by members of Ann Arbor’s City Council. The program will be formally introduced to Council at its meeting on Nov. 5.

At the November meeting, City Council will be seeking a contract amendment with its contract vendor, FCR Recycling to retrofit a single stream system at the city’s existing MRF. FCR currently works with the city to process and market the recyclable material. Recycle Ann Arbor does the collection of the material.

The project is expected to be complete and operational by July, 2010, with an expansion of storage capabilities one year later.

After the initial vote in November, the city council is expected to hear testimony and vote on the RecycleBank component, as well as awarding contracts for equipment suppliers such as containers and trucks to handle the material.

The revamped collection program is expected to cost around $3.5 million. McMurtrie notes that a single stream system with a RecycleBank component will allow the city to increase the number of recyclables handled to include a wider range of plastics. At the same, McMurtrie notes that a switch to the new service will roughly double the amount of recyclables collected to around 752 pounds per household per year.

"The response from council was very positive. It is a win win situation for the city," McMurtrie says.