California City Switching to Single-Stream Collection

By the end of the year, San Marcos, Calif., residents no longer will have to separate their trash recyclables into three containers.

Instead, they will be given a 64-gallon container for all of their paper, plastic, glass, metal and other recyclables.

There will be no added costs for the 13,000 single-family homes served by EDCO Waste and Recycling Services, the private company that contracts with San Marcos for trash pickup, officials said. City residents pay $17.76 a month for trash service.

"The ease of using the single bin is a big part of the program, but so is the idea that we should substantially be able to reduce the amount of waste going into landfills," Assistant City Manager Paul Malone said.

Malone estimated the new system should result in about a 15 percent reduction in the residential waste from the city.

EDCO expects the change to save money because, after the initial investment in larger trash cans for recyclables and the automated trucks needed to lift them, fewer employees will be needed.

The current system requires a truck driver and a worker who picks up the small recyclable containers and empties them into the truck. With the new system, the driver will operate an arm to pick up the larger containers.

With the new, "single-stream recycling containers" the city expects to exceed the state requirement for reducing trash flow to landfills, Malone said. Sign On San Diego