What is single stream recycling?

Question

What is single stream recycling?

Answer 1

Single stream (also known as “fully commingled”) recycling refers to a system in

which all paper fibers and containers are mixed together in a collection truck, instead

of being sorted into separate commodities (newspaper, cardboard, plastic, glass, etc.)

by the resident and handled separately throughout the collection process. In single

stream, both the collection and processing systems must be designed to handle this

fully commingled mixture of recyclables.

Answer 2

Single stream- All waste goes away from your home together with everything mixed. All glass, plastic, cardboard, food waste, all gets transported together.

2 stream- Waste is divided into 2 separate categories at the curb. (trash and recyclables or dry and wet) depending on how the city has people sorting it

3 stream- might be something like 1. garbage 2. glass + plastic 3. paper + cardboard

The amount of streams just refers to how many categories its sorted into before its collected from your curb.

Answer 3

What is Single Stream Recycling?

The Single Stream recycling method requires very little effort from the participants.

Residents are no longer required to sort recyclable material into separate bags. With the Single Stream method, all recycling materials are mixed together (commingled) in a green and yellow cart. All of the sorting is done by Waste Management at its material recovery facility.

How does the program work?

Participants receive a 64-gallon green recycling cart with a hinged yellow lid; similar to the refuse containers. 32 gallon and 95 gallon recycling carts are also available. Please call 952-548-6351 to change the size of your recycling cart

Residents put all recyclable materials into the same cart

Recycling is collected every other week, on the same day as refuse collection

Where do I put my recycling cart?

Your recycling cart should be at the collection location by 6:30 am on your scheduled day

Remember to keep a 4-foot clearance around your refuse and recycling container (see diagram below)

Why Single Stream Recycling?

Single Stream recycling simplifies recycling - all recyclable materials are mixed together in one container

Single Stream recycling is so easy, the number of participants increases; therefore, the pounds of recycled materials collected also increases

There is less loose material strewn about the alleys and boulevards. The hinged lids on the carts keep recyclable material in the cart and dry

The wheeled carts make transportation easier, no more heavy lifting

Collecting carts every other week means less truck traffic in your neighborhood

What do I do if my recycling is not picked up or if my cart is broken?

If your recycling is missed or if your cart is broken, please contact the Hopkins Recycling Coordinator at 952-548-6351. Missed collections should be reported by 12:00 pm the following day.

What materials can go in my cart?

Aluminum cans (rinsed clean)

Metal food cans (rinsed clean)

Glass bottles and jars (colors: brown, green and clear. Please remove lids and caps, and rinse clean)

Plastic bottles (Commonly accepted plastic bottles include soda and water bottles, milk and water jugs, and laundry product containers. Please remove all caps, lids, pumps and metal handles and rinse clean)

Paper beverage cartons (cartons that contain 4, 6, 12 or 24 bottles or cans) NEW!

Newspaper

Magazines

Catalogs

Direct mail advertisements

Books

File folders

Notebooks

Envelopes (all types)

Paper (all colors)

Fax and telex sheets

Onion skin paper

Clean paper bags

4 C's boxboard (cereal, cake, chip & cracker boxes)

Corrugated cardboard (cannot be larger than 2' X 2')

Answer 4

Single-Stream recycling is a recycling process in which materials are all mingled together with no sorting required by individual recyclers. So cans and bottles can be recycled together with newspaper, cardboard, etc. You need not sort out different recyclable materials in different recycle bins. The sorting takes place at the recycling plant where the materials are separated and eventually recycled. So you can dump your empty metal cans with paper and cardboard trash.