Single vs. Dual-Stream Debate

A workshop being offered in connection with a New York recycling association conference will make a pitch for the viability of dual-stream recycling systems.   Presented in Syracuse, N.Y., on Weds., Oct. 20, “Before Going Single Stream, Take Another Look at Dual Stream” is part of the 15^th Annual Recycling Conference of the New York State Association for Recycling, Reduction & Reuse Inc. (NYSAR3), www.nysar3.org.

The workshop is directed toward haulers, municipal officials, private vendors and others interested in how curbside commodities are handled. Its organizers promise “a fresh look at dual stream recycling technologies.”

The session will present findings from recent studies on collection, processing and re-manufacturing methods, with equipment manufacturers in the collection and processing field offering presentations on their dual stream technologies.

Susan Hubbard, Past President of the National Recycling Coalition, Washington, and current CEO of Eureka Recycling, Minneapolis, Minn., is serving as moderator. She will also speak about the 14-month study conducted by Eureka Recycling and the city of Saint Paul. The study was conducted in advance of significant capital investments to be made in truck fleet and processing capacity.

The study specifically looked at the cost, convenience and environmental impact (diversion) of several designs, including source-separated, dual stream in blue bins, dual stream in carts, single-stream in carts and organics collection. She will also report on findings based on the two years of operation since the study was completed.

Also speaking will be Christian La Pointe, a vice president with Labrie Equipment Ltd., St. Nicolas, Quebec, Canada, a manufacturer of garbage and recyclables collection equipment. He will address recent innovations in the collection vehicle industry, specifically looking at those intended for dual-stream and single-stream programs.

And Andrew Bell of Sonoco Products Co., Hartsville, S.C., will report on the recent study conducted by the American Forest and Paper Association, which looks at the problem of recovered fiber quality degradation and how it affects paper mills in the U.S.

Sonoco manufactures 100 percent recycled content paperboard products, as well as tubes, cans and cores for the consumer and industrial markets. The company owns mills in the U.S., Europe, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

The workshop will be held on Weds., Oct. 20 from 1 p.m. to 3 pm at the Holiday Inn on Electronics Parkway & 7^th North in Syracuse.