WM Opens Largest Single Stream Recycling Facility

Waste Management, Inc. opened the largest, state-of-the-art single-stream recycling facility in the nation and the first of its kind in the Baltimore/Washington metro area. Located in Elkridge, Md., the $7 million, 50,000 sq. ft. facility has the capacity to process up to 1,000 tons of recyclables per day.

Initially developed to serve Howard and Anne Arundel counties in Maryland, the facility’s size allows it to accept materials from the greater Baltimore/Washington area. The facility employs advanced recycling technology including magnets, screens and optical scanners to automate the sorting of recyclables. The efficiency of the single-stream process can improve local recycling programs by increasing capacity, resulting in an average recovery of up to 30 percent more recyclable materials while maintaining material quality equal to if not better than traditional recycling processes.

"Since switching from a dual stream collection system to a single stream system in Howard County, participation in our recycling program has increased by more than 15 percent. This facility has been an integral part of that success, and I promise to do my part to make sure the county's recycling program continues to progress," said Howard County Executive Ken Ulman.