Recycling Today for a Better Tommorow

Recycling opportunities have increased in the St. Louis region through the most recent introduction of Single Stream Recycling. This is a new term in the recycling climate of the St. Louis region but not in the waste and recycling industry. Throughout the United States the term Single Stream Recycling has become a common and an apparent answer to many recycling needs.

What does the term Single Stream Recycling mean?

Single Stream Recycling means that material can now be collected in a total commingled fashion. Your recycling can now be collected in a combined or mixed fashion.

Paper, glass and plastic containers can now be collected without the need of keeping the paper separated from the plastic or metal containers.

How is the material separated?

Through the use of automated separation equipment at the MRF (Material Recovery Facility), faster and more efficient separation can be obtained at a processing level.

What materials can be placed in my recycle bin?

Many additional products have been added to your recycle material list.

Paper (if the paper tears and is not food contaminated)

Commingled Containers (Aluminum cans, foil, plates; Steel bi-metal cans, bottle glass, #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #7 plastic containers)

Container Criteria

Note:

1. All containers are to be empty and rinsed.
2. No motor oil, insecticide, herbicide or hazardous chemical containers.
3. Return plastic bags to grocery or department store.
4. No plastic film (no plastic sheets, tarps, or wrap)
5. No expanded foam or clear polystyrene

See: ACCEPTED MATERIAL LIST

You will note by recycling all items on this list you could remove over half of your generated waste.

How is Single Stream Recycling collected?

Single Stream Recycling can be collected in current recycling trucks or through the use of typical compaction vehicles that may also be used on alternate days for solid waste and yard waste collection. This gives the opportunity for Christian to maximize the use of their collection fleet for solid waste, recyclables, and yard waste. We no longer have to purchase and maintain double fleets of trucks that can only be used for a single and specific collection. By eliminating these dual costs, it reduces the cost of collecting curbside recycling. Another benefit of utilizing compaction vehicles, we will maximize the time on routes and transfer the volume of waste reduction to the compaction fleet. This provides incentives for the companies to increase the volumes of recycling and decrease the volume of solid waste.

How do I place recycling in my recycle bin?

Since there is no need to separate, recycle materials can be placed into bins without regard to paper or containers. It is no longer needed to segregate paper in your bin. Add material to your bin as generated. Continue to follow recycle guide on handling containers.

Because of the higher volume of recycle product it may require additional bins which can be provided at a nominal fee.

What does Recycling/Single Stream Recycling do for me as an individual?

1. It gives you the ability to control future waste cost due to increase of tipping fees for waste being diverted from landfills.
2. Adds increased lifespan to area and regional landfills which reduces cost of transportation to landfills outside local region.
3. Provides marketable goods to recyclable end markets to provide future product from recycled material which reduces costs of packaging to you as a consumer.
4. Provides jobs in the local region providing taxable revenue in which we all benefit. Estimated 28,000 jobs are linked to recycling to some degree in the St. Louis region.
5. Once material is buried in a landfill it provides no future purpose in the economy. A constant recycling climate will renew the economical benefit of marketable product in a continuous cycle.

Recycling Tidbits

Tin and Steel (56% recycling rate)

75% of containers found on grocery shelves are steel/tin cans. Plastic containers represent 23.5%.

Usage: 90% of steel cans are used for food packaging

Recycled cans take 75% less energy to make than cans that are made from raw material (ore).

Aluminum Cans (54% recycling rate)

Bauxite comes from mainly Australia, Brazil, Guinea, and Jamaica.

Manufacturing aluminum cans from recycled stock saves. Recycling of cans requires 95% less energy to make than cans that are made from raw material (ore). Also creating:

• 95% less emissions
• 95% less water pollution
• 20 recycled cans = 1 new can

Accepted Commingle Containers List:

• Aluminum Cans, Trays & Foil (Trays and foil must be cleaned)
• Aseptic Packaging & Gable Top Containers (milk and juice cartons)
• Steel Cans and Tins (including aerosol cans)
• Glass Bottles and Jars (clear, brown, and green)
• NO Window glass, dinnerware, or ceramics.

Accepted Paper Fiber List:

If the paper tears recycle it

• Newspaper, including inserts (remove plastic sleeves)
• Cardboard
• Kraft (brown paper) bags
• Magazines, Catalogs, & Telephone Books
• Office & Computer paper, notebook, school papers (no metal clips, spirals, ring binders)
• Chipboard (cereal, cake & food, gift boxes, etc.)
• Carrier Stock (soda, beer can carrying cases)
• Mail and Junk Mail with Envelopes
• (no plastic cards, stick on labels or unused stamps)
• Paperback Books (no hard cover books.)
• Gift wrapping paper

PLASTICS:

• #1 PET Soda, Water, & Flavored Beverage Bottles (#1 clear and green)
• #2 HDPE Milk & Juice Jugs (clear)
• #2 HDPE Detergent & Fabric Softener
• Containers (colored)
• #3 PVC Narrow Neck Containers Only
• (health & beauty aid products, household cleaners)
• #4 LDPE Grocery Containers
• (Margarine tubs, frozen desert cups, six and twelve pack rings.)
• #5 PP Grocery Containers (yogurt cups and narrow neck syrup and ketchup bottles)
• #7 Plastic Narrow Neck Containers Only.
• Plastic buckets, such as kitty litter buckets.
• (5 gallon maximum size)

The number above is found in chasing arrows on bottom of plastic containers.

If the number in the chasing arrows is #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #7, and it fits the criteria you may recycle the container. See Container Criteria

  PS Polystyrene expanded foam

Commonly called Styrofoam (#6 Plastic is not recyclable at this time.)

Do not put #6 plastic containers in recycle bin.

Recycling benefits you,
our community and our environment.
Start recycling today!