1. Collection Systems
Designing Collection Systems that Keep Materials Out of Landfills and Incinerators

2. In This Lesson By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:
(Knowledge Level) identify the various bins and carts used to collect waste and recyclables
(Comprehension Level) contrast the differences in collection systems for residential and commercial resource streams
(Application Level) classify resources into collection categories that optimize both diversion and costs

3. Collection Sectors
Collection systems generally fall into three categories:
Residential
Commercial
Industrial / Construction

4. Collection System Considerations
How often
What materials
How many separations
What kind of containers/bins
What kind of vehicles
What is the collection area density
What kind of local facilities

5. Residential Systems Most common systems Weekly collection
Resident sorts (3-stream)
Trash
Recyclables
Yard/Organics
Carts (with wheels)
Side-side-load/rear-load trucks
Dense collection / house-to-house by area
Photo credit: Judi Gregory

6. Automated (Cart) Collection
Pro’s
Con’s
Larger container => higher recovery rate
Consistent look / aesthetically pleasing
Easier to store recyclables
Easier to get to the curb
Reduced worker injury & costs
Less litter on windy days
Keeps the paper dry
Dry materials easier to sort
Limited # of containers/space
Higher cost of for additional containers
Harder to get community buy-in/support
Less jobs/fewer workers on truck 6

7. Carts versus Cans Manual – cans and totes Semi-automated – carts
Fully-automated – carts
Split Carts
Plate Tectonics
Organics Cycle 7

8. Collection Vehicles Single or multi-compartment
Sizes vary from 2-axle to 4-axle
Automated, semi automated
Side-load, front-load, rear-load options 8

9. Yard Waste & Green Stuff
Variety of options.
Consider climate & rural or suburban
Bundled or Can
Seasonal only
Mixed with food
Limited / Unlimited amounts
Plate Tectonics
Organics Cycle 9

10. Mixed Collection Options
It’s can be easier because:
Throw it all in together
Little to no promotion or education effort or cost
Easy to add new materials
But….
Requires extensive processing
Results in higher contamination, higher costs to sort and process, and higher residual waste
Need to consider increased participation –v- increased residual, and downgraded commodities 10

11. Collection 11

12. Consider various residential collection systems, notably those where you live. What are the key differences between them and how do they effect diversion, cost and ease to residents?

13. Collection System Considerations
Varying volume
Different materials depending upon industry
Single – multi-day collection needs
Space for bins inside work area and outside
Challenges educating employees

14. Commercial Recycling Systems
All commercial recycling is not created equal…1 program won’t fit ALL
Offices – Office paper
Retail & Distribution – cardboard, packing materials & mixed paper
Restaurants – cardboard & food scraps
Hotels & Entertainment Venues – fiber, containers & food scraps
Flooring – wood, carpet and padding
Plate Tectonics
Organics Cycle 14

15. Commercial Collection Equipment
Front-load trucks are the primary collection vehicle
Front-load bins, shown below are most common
Carts, shown on truck forks can be used for small business recycling
Plate Tectonics
Organics Cycle 15

16. Office Recycling Desk-side containers Centralized containers
Collection containers
How to get materials outside for collection
No garbage can option
Where do office programs fail?
…The Role of the
custodial staff
Plate Tectonics
Organics Cycle 16

17. Custodial Contracting
Ensure that collection of source separated recyclables is in the contract
Provide proper training
Provide proper carts to collect sorted materials
Monitor for compliance

18. Custodial Training
A critical part of teamwork is ensuring the Custodial Staff knows:
Direct contact with Custodial Supervisor
What is recyclable?
Ensure correct language is used based on staffing
Is there a Contractor Orientation that includes the basic information?
Physically show employees what goes where
Slide Credit: SBM

19. Retail Recycling Typically larger volume Boxes that products arrive in
Significant volumes of plastic
Administrative paperwork
Unsalable items
Plate Tectonics
Organics Cycle 19

20. Restaurant Recycling Back of House Front of House Boxes Containers
Food scraps
Food Prep
Food not served
Front of House
Plate scrapings
Newspaper, bottles
Plate Tectonics
Organics Cycle 20

21. Construction & Demolition Recycling
High volume
Various materials: wood, metal, drywall, concrete, cardboard… – sorted onsite
Demo is ideal for reuse and donation (habitat for humanity
Collection in large roll-off boxes
Plate Tectonics
Organics Cycle 21

22. Manufacturing Scrap Transportation Packaging Pallets
Industrial Recycling
Manufacturing Scrap
Transportation Packaging
Pallets
Plate Tectonics
Organics Cycle 22

23. Technology Company Recycles Polystyrene
In 2003, business generated 7,500 pounds per month of Polystyrene planks from received parts packaging
Material was in pieces that were bulky but didn’t weigh much
Business was paying approximately $16.8K per month to dispose of material
Difficult markets for recycling
Overhead shot of the Polystyrene bales and plastic

24. Initial Solutions Shred Materials - and blow into compactor
Cost to shred
Did not work, hot and humid in Memphis
Bale Materials - put in horizontal baler
Lightweight, made 400 pound bales
Very labor intensive
Benefit of avoided disposal cost

25. Intermediate Solutions
Evaluate a Block Densifier
Densified Polystyrene 40 to 1
Labor intensive
Large capital investment
Equipment malfunctions
Operating 24-7
2 machines –high frequency downtime
Benefit of avoided disposal cost by sale of material
Block Densifier: 40 to 1 Densification about $40K to purchase
Purchased 2

26. Long-Term Solution Volume increases to over 1 million pounds per year
Installed Big Brutus
Reduced breakdown
Reduced labor
Increased output volume
Less headaches
Saved $102K in avoided disposal
Sold Polystyrene for $85K per year
Big Brutus: 1 shredder that blows the polystyrene beads into the bags and then only part of the time does the blue machine work

27. Cost Analysis Initial expense of $200/year in disposal
Initial solution has avoid disposal to offset cost
Intermediate solution increases avoided cost and adds revenue
Final solution has most revenue and avoided cost

28. Key Learnings Look outside the box for ideas
Take steps to a solutions, starting with least capital investment
Talk with colleagues, peers, others that have had the same issue
Ask for references
Plan for learning curve
Previous issues where the broken down Polystyrene beads go everywhere

29. Ask students to discuss alternatives to polystyrene recycling that might have been considered in the previous case-study. What are the economic and environmental benefits?