1. Single Stream Recycling Material Recovery Facilities
Tracy Nestor, Republic Services

2. About Republic Services
Republic Services, Inc. is an industry leader in U.S. non-hazardous solid waste and recycling. Republic Services operates 75 recycling facilities nationwide, and partners with more than 100 mills and manufacturers worldwide to turn recycled items into new products. Those products include newspaper, cardboard, glass and plastic bottles, tissue, paper towels, and metal cans. Republic Services has invested over $12 M in infrastructure upgrades at our Material Recovery Facility (MRF) to convert single stream technology. Today we would like to discuss our new single stream technology and the benefits single stream collection can bring to your community.

3. About the Conover Recycling Facility
Approximately 49,000 square feet
Highly-advanced, single stream recycling operation
Serves more than 146,000 homes throughout Alamance, Alexander, Caldwell, Catawba, Guilford, Lincoln, Montgomery, Richmond, Rutherford
and Stanly counties in North Carolina
Employs 43 full-time personnel
Recycling operations at the facility first began in 1990
Offers a unique Learning Center for the community to visit, experience a rare, up-close view of the recycling process, and learn more about recycling and sustainability issues.
Designed by Bulk Handling Systems (bulkhandlingsystems.com)

4. MRF Capabilities
Processes more than 400 tons of mixed recyclables per day, or 25 tons per hour
Capacity is projected to increase by approximately 25% in the first year
Recycled materials can be processed and shipped to domestic or international markets as commodities within 24 hours of arrival
Finished bales of paper, plastic and metals weigh an average of 1,500 lbs.

5. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Aluminum: Recycling one aluminum can save enough energy to run a TV for 3 hours (Source – Reynolds Metal Company)
Glass: One ton of glass made from 50% recycled materials saves 250 lbs. of mining waste (Source – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Paper: Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees and ,000 gallons of water (Source – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Plastic: The energy saved by recycling one plastic bottle will power a computer for 25 minutes (Source – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Steel: Every pound of steel recycled saves enough energy to light a 60-watt bulb for 24 hours (Source – Penn State University)

6. Public Buy Back / Learning Center
We have a public buy back center that is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm, and we pay cash for certain items such as aluminum cans.
We serve as a Convenience Center where the general public can drop off their recycling if they do not have pick up at their residence.
Tours are available at no cost to the general public by appointment.
Our education room has an 80” television screen that allows us to view all areas of the facility through cameras.
One wall in the education room has a full diagram of the new automated sorting system on it.
There are examples off all materials we accept on display in the education room.

8. Why is Single Stream So Significant
Collection is the most expensive aspect of providing recycling service
Single stream recycling enables more efficient collection
Ability to commingle removes a barrier to participation
Conversion to single stream is associated with significant increases in participation and landfill diversion
More convenience centers in NC are single-stream than any other recycling style

9. Benefits of Single Stream
Curbside
Drop Off Centers
Increased ease for participants
No need for specialized / compartmentalized vehicle
Material can be compacted (greater payloads, less time spent dumping, more time on route)
Enables use of carts
Increased ease for participants – no need to sort into different containers
Takes up less space at convenience sites
Compatible with common service vehicles (front-load or roll-off)
Allows programs to maximize hauling effectiveness

10. Facts About Program Effectiveness
source-separated and dual-stream curbside programs in NC
Collection average = 249 lbs/household/year
single stream curbside programs in NC
Collection average = 331 lbs./household/year
33% increase
Operational savings + increased recovery+ reduced disposal cost will outweigh lost revenue

11. Higher market = higher rebates
Curbside Savings
Example: 12,000 home municipality
$45 per ton disposal cost
EOW curbside recycling program
95 gallon carts
$5 per ton rebate
2000 tons per year recyclables = $10,000 year rebate
2000 tons per year disposal diversion = $90,000 year savings
Higher market = higher rebates
Higher participation = lower disposal costs

12. County Recycling Program Styles in NC
As of FY Single Stream is the most common type of drop off program.
* Source NC Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service
# Counties
# Convenience Sites
Single Stream 43
333
Dual Stream 11 76
Source Separated 42
283

13. Single-Stream and Drop-off Recycling
Simplify citizen experience – no need for sorting, one stop
Fewer containers taking up less space, traffic flow at sites improves
Allows for compaction to maximize hauling efficiency
Counties should strongly consider compactors at staffed convenience sites (more payload, fewer hauls)

14. Space: Before and After
Before: multiple containers for different recyclables
After: one or two centralized containers for mixed recyclable material

15. Single Stream + Compactors = Results
County
Recycling Increase After Single Stream Implementation
Franklin County
43%
Moore County
49%
Rutherford County
20%
Moore County, NC Case Study
Collection Costs
Before $144,573
After: $53,775
Trend shows that single stream collection at drop off centers with compactors is a
3:1 reduction in collection costs

16. Rutherford County Case Study
Bills Creek Site
Danieltown Site
Before: 3 trips per month at $180 per trip
$6480 per year
After: 1 trip per month at $108 per trip
$1296 per year
Annual savings
$5184
Before: 12 trips per month at $108 per trip
$15,552 per year
After: 2 trips per month at $72 per trip
$1728 per year
Annual Savings $13,824

17. Contact and Visit a MRF
Take a tour to understand the technology and capabilities
Partner with a local MRF to review your recycling programs
Consider Single Stream Recycling to
Improve efficiencies
Reduce landfill tonnage
Make recycling easier on the consumer to increase participation
Contact DEACS to see if there is grant funding for your community to fund the implementation of single stream collection.
Use your MRF as a resource to provide you with the latest recycling trends

18. Thank you! Tracy Nestor Municipal Services Manager