The 21owner-municipalities of Regional Waste Systems (RWS) have voted to bring single-stream recycling to
RWS Chairman Jeffrey Jordan of
Having examined four proposals, the board of directors voted in mid-May to institute single-stream recycling, awarding the contract to Van Dyk Baler Corp., Stamford, Conn. “This generation of equipment is so advanced that it includes an optical sorter, which identifies No. 1 plastic and separates it from other plastics,” RWS General Manager Kevin Roche says.
Linda Boudreau, chair of the RWS recycling committee that researched single-stream technology, reviewed proposals and made the final recommendation to the board, says, “Single stream technology eliminates the need to separate recyclables by category for collection, which has many ripple-effect benefits.” Specifically, the benefits she cites are increased participation in recycling, less employee time for curbside collection, less idling time (resulting in less pollution) and fewer trips by trucks to the RWS recycling center. Boudreau said, as a result, single stream technology is more beneficial to the environment and, also, increases efficiency for RWS communities, including their six associate members. “National statistics for communities with curbside pick-up show an average increase in efficiency of 20-30 percent,” adds Boudreau.
Roche says that tipping fees for trash will not increase for member communities and that funding will come from reserves and earnings from the sale of recyclables. Projected revenues (after expenses) are projected at $4.5 million over 15 years.
RWS conducted two single-stream pilot projects before arriving at its decision. A pilot with the Portland Public Works Department showed a 24 percent reduction in time needed to complete recycling collection routes. In addition, Roche says that turn-around time for trucks at the RWS facility was faster and was projected to save their member communities, in total, the annual equivalent of 30 eight-hour days. Another benefit was the ability to use compactor trucks instead of the trucks with separate bins. “Compactors carry more material than standard recycling trucks so they can service more stops before having to empty their load,” Roche says.
The pilot single stream project for small towns was conducted in Lyman, with a population 3,909. Results showed the biggest benefit for Lyman, which does not have curbside pick-up, was the ability to use compaction to reduce the number of trips to the RWS recycling facility in
RWS, through its 21 owner-communities and six associate-member communities, serves about 20 percent of