Reduce, Re-use, single stream recycle

Laila Sholtz-Ames

January 28, 2010
Recycle bins at the University of Maine

UMaine’s Green Team, along with Property Management, is working to change recycling. Single stream 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, newspapers, plastics, papers, etc, and sorted separately.

In single stream recycling , both the collection and processing systems must be designed to handle this fully commingled mixture of recyclables. This saves on both time, as people will not have to place all their separate recyclables in separate bins, and it will keep transportation costs down, as trucks will not have to make multiple trips to the garbage depot. This would mean that residents would place recyclables in one bin.

Single stream recycling allows all materials to be stored in one bin.

UMaine Green Team president, Greg Edwards, believes that single stream recycling will not only reduce costs, but it will encourage Mainers to recycle more. "This will allow people to just throw their garbage and place it all in one bin." Edwards says that garbage will then be transported to and sorted at the depot. In addition to Single Stream, Orono is working on creating more recyclable products in the dining halls and larger recycling containers. Both the Green Team and the Orono community hope this will be implemented by the end of 2010.
To learn about Green Team, click here: http://mobilemainenews.com/?p=1404