California City Approves Single-Stream Recycling Program

On November 14^th, the Palm Springs City Council voted unanimously to implement a single-stream recycling program in the city. The program will replace a dual stream system that presently is in place.

The single-stream program will begin by the third quarter of next year.

To fund the program the City Council, earlier this year, approved a one-time, $2 million capital-equipment grant to purchase vehicles and equipment needed to make the switch to a single-stream program. The money will come from the Palm Springs’ Solid Waste Diversion Facility Fund and will be used to reimburse Palm Springs Disposal Services for the acquisition of the vehicles and containers.

The City has an agreement with Palm Springs Disposal Services for solid waste collection, disposal and recycling services.

By switching over to a single-stream program the city hopes to increase the participation rate, as well as the volume of materials being collected. Other advantages to the new system include: increased flexibility to add additional materials without extra costs for collection containers; improving the handling of the recyclables due to the wheeled containers to be used; reduction in the litter due to hinged lids on the containers.