What is single-stream recycling?
Single-stream
isn’t anything fancy. It simply refers to a new system
that takes the two recycling “streams” collected through
the Jonesville curbside program — mixed paper and
commingled bins — and puts them together in one 65 gal
Roll Out cart. Voila. Single-stream. Two 18 gal bins,
now one 65 gal Roll out cart. It is still important to
follow the same guidelines applied to the two-bin
program, except you put the two streams together.
Why are we moving to single-stream?
Using
just one larger collection mobile container for all your
recyclable items increases the ease and convenience of
recycling so that more people participate and more
resources are saved. We’re making recycling easier for
you — at home, at work and on the go.
Single-stream
offers more efficient collections for the haulers who
normally have to run two recycling routes to collect the
two streams. This decreases the most costly part of
recycling programs as well as the pollution from
collection vehicles. More than 60% of what we currently
place in our trash and eventually fill up our landfills
can be recycled. Single Stream offers a more efficient
way to do that.
State and city officials enacted laws
mandating recycling and setting arbitrary goals for many
states even higher than the E.P.A.'s—this includes NC.
They estimate 75% of what Americans throw in the trash
can be recycled. Currently NC has 23 major categories
of items banned from landfills and another 10 on the way
in 2011. Recycling is no longer a suggestion—it’s the
law.
What are the potential advantages to single-stream?
Reduced sorting effort by residents may mean more
recyclables are placed at the curb and more residents
may participate in recycling;
Reduced collection costs because single-compartment
trucks are cheaper to purchase and operate, collection
can be automated, and
collection
routes can be serviced more efficiently;
Greater fleet flexibility which allows single
compartment vehicles to be used for refuse or recycling,
providing greater fleet flexibility and
reducing the
number of reserve vehicles needed.
Participation and volume per household may increase and
worker injuries may decrease because the switch to
single stream is often accompanied
by a switch from bins to cart-based collection Greater
fleet flexibility which allows single compartment
vehicles to be used for refuse or
recycling, providing greater fleet flexibility and
reducing the number of reserve vehicles needed.
Changing to single stream may provide an
opportunity to update the collection and processing
system and to add new materials to the list of
recyclables accepted; more paper grades may be
collected, including junk mail, telephone books, mixed
residential paper and Cardboard.
When can I expect to receive by new Rollout Cart?
It is anticipated that the new rollout carts will be
distributed by February 1, 2011. They will come with
informational flyers attached to
further
explain the program and the date by which collection
using the new 65 gallon rollout cart will begin.
What should I do with my current recycling bin (s)?
You may keep the current bins for your own personal use
or you may put them out curbside to be recycled. If
putting them out curbside,
please attach a note saying that you would like to
recycle the bin and the All Service Refuse driver will
collect it.
Do I have to separate my recyclable materials?
No, under this program all accepted
materials can be comingled together in the cart and no
separation is necessary.
What
materials will I be able to recycle under Single Stream?
Under the NEW Single Stream program the following
items will be accepted:
-
Aluminum food and beverage containers
-
Glass food and beverage containers –
brown, clear, or green
-
Ferrous (Iron) cans
-
PET plastic containers with the
symbol #1 – with screw tops only, without caps
-
HDPE plastic containers with the
symbol #2 – narrow neck containers only (milk and
water bottles)
-
HDPE pigmented plastic containers
with the symbol #2 – narrow neck containers only,
without caps (detergent, shampoo bottles, etc.)
-
Plastics with symbols #3, #4, #5, #6,
#7-narrow and screw top containers
-
Newsprint
-
Old corrugated cardboard
-
Magazines
-
Catalogs
-
Cereal boxes
-
Telephone books
-
Printer paper
-
Copier paper
-
Mail
-
***All other office paper without wax
liners
What materials will I NOT be able to recycle under
Single Stream?
Will my recycling collection day change?
No. Your day of service will remain the same Tuesday,
however your service will be Bi-Weekly or every other
Tuesday. See the calendar for
clarification of your week of service.
Is there anything else I need to know before I can start
single-stream recycling?
-
All glass containers must by empty
and free of metal caps and rings and contain less
than 5% food debris.
-
All tin cans, bi-metal cans, and
aluminum cans must be empty and contain less than 5%
food debris.
-
All aerosol cans must be empty with
less than 5% content
-
All plastic containers must be empty,
caps removed; less than 5% food debris.
-
All Fiber must be dry and free of
food debris and other contaminating material.
-
Tissues, paper towels or other paper
that has been in contact with food is not
acceptable.
***This is an automated process where the driver does
not get out of the vehicle Recyclables outside of the
Roll Out carts will not be collected.
Am I responsible for this new Roll out cart?
Yes, you are responsible to maintain the cart in
good condition. The Town of Jonesville will only
repair or replace carts that are damaged as a result
of their collection process or due to wear and tear
over time. Residents should report any collection
process damage immediately and directly to the Town.
Residents may purchase a replacement cart directly
from the Town.
The 65 Gallon Roll out Cart
All carts will be Blue and will be delivered to your
home. These carts can be filled with accepted
recyclable materials only and not used for trash.
When putting the cart out for collection, the lid
should always be in the closed position to protect
from rain or other contamination.
Where do I place my recycle Cart? (Proper Placement)
The cart should be placed within three feet (3’) of
the edge of road. The front of the cart (side with
bar) must be facing the road so that the mechanical
arm of the truck can pick up your cart.
Where should I NOT place my recycle Cart? (Proper
Placement)
It is important that the carts be placed curbside
properly. The cart MUST be (‘3) away from
mail boxes, poles, your trash containers etc. in
order for you cart to be service safely and properly
by the automated arm. The driver will not exit the
collection truck to make carts accessible for
collection. To that end, if they are not placed
correctly, they will not be collected.
Are other communities using single-stream recycling?
Yes. Other communities diverting 50%, 60%, even 70% of
their waste from the landfill has achieved these goals
in part by switching to single-stream. Some of the
communities throughout the US currently using
single-stream include San Francisco, Toronto, Denver,
Tucson, San Jose, Philadelphia and Dallas. Locally, the
City of Winston Salem, Rockingham County, Forsyth
County, the City of Concord, the City of Kannapolis, the
Town of Elkin and the Town of Jonesville have all stood
up or are exploring ways to stand up Single Stream
curbside recycling.
Click here for a calendar with the
schedule for pickup of the new Streamlines Recycling
Click here for a complete listing
of Acceptable and Non-Acceptable Items
