Separation vs. Commingling of Recyclable Materials
Recyclables are collected in two primary ways:
- Source-separated Programs require residents to sort their recyclables prior to curbside collection. Separation is usually based on categories of materials that will be bought and sold in the marketplace (glass, plastic, aluminum, paper, etc).
- Commingled Programs allow residents to mingle all recyclables in a single curbside container and sorts them at centralized processing facilities.
RATIONALE
The type of recycling program a local government implements will affect program costs, revenue, and volume of recyclables collected. Government officials should therefore carefully consider where in the process they want sorting to take place, and what materials should be separated. Key issues include:
- Material Recovery: What types of recyclable materials will be collected? Which model will encourage citizen participation?
- Material Quality: Which model will result in less contamination during handling?
- Material Revenue: Which model works with markets that will use the recyclables for higher use and will generate necessary revenue levels?
- Collection Cost: Which model is more operationally efficient?
- Processing Cost: What levels of labor, space, and equipment are needed by each model? Which model is best suited to existing processing facilities?
- Flexibility: Which model will be better able to adapt to changes in technology, local patterns, and markets over time?
One of the most powerful forces in favor of commingling has been the increased number of materials curbside recycling programs are able to collect. Additionally, due in large part to concerns about worker injuries and costs of worker compensation, many communities have adopted automated collection programs. Automated commingled programs reduce costs and increase consumer convenience.
EFFORT REQUIRED
Source separated waste streams require added effort on the front end because residents must be educated as to what materials can be recycled and additional routes must be created for collecting recyclables. Commingled waste collection can be seamlessly implemented without residents having to change their behavior. The greatest challenge a city faces is raising the capital necessary to purchase advanced sorting equipment.
BENEFITS
Benefits of Source-Separation include:
- Cleaner materials to market
- Less expensive processing because does not require extensive equipment or specialized facility for sorting
- Greater consumer awareness of materials
- Potential for changes in purchasing choices
Benefits of Commingling include:
- Less compartmentalized trucks and simpler collection process
- Automated and semi-automated collection systems can reduce labor costs
- Single containers make it easier to add or subtract types of approved recyclable materials without additional bins
- Bins not as short as separated containers; less bending for collectors
- Produces higher tonnage of materials than separated programs, due to increased citizen participation
- More convenient for customers
- Relatively easy to explain to customers
RISKS
Risks associated with Source-Separation include:
- Potentially lower resident participation rates and/or ineffective separation
Risks associated with Commingling include:
- Newer technologies are less tested and may not achieve anticipated contamination rates
- Residents are not responsible for the sorting of materials, therefore they are less aware of their personal waste stream and less likely to reduce the volume of waste they create
ACTION AGENTS
- Environmental Management Department
- Solid Waste Management/Recycling Department
- Public Works Department
COSTS
A Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) study of more than 110 California communities found an average curbside recycling cost of about $2.40 per household per month. This information is somewhat weighted toward larger communities. A nationwide SWANA study estimated that commingling could reduce program costs by 20–35%.
The collection, reprocessing, marketing, and use of materials that were diverted or recovered from the solid waste stream.The overall flow of waste from consumers to a landfill, incinerator, or other disposal site.
