THE BENEFITS OF SINGLE-STREAM RECYCLING California Integrated Waste Management Board California Roundtable Single-Stream Recycling May 23, 2005 Sacramento,

THE BENEFITS

OF SINGLE-STREAM RECYCLINGCalifornia Integrated Waste Management

Board

California Roundtable

Single-Stream Recycling

May 23, 2005

Sacramento, CA

Today’s Topics

Diversion is King

Safety as a Key Driver

Efficiencies and Economic Benefits

Processing Challenges

WM/RAA in California

WM/RAA is California’s largest recycler of MSW

WM/RAA operates approximately 24 Recycling facilities in California

Of those 11 do Single Stream processing

RAA Markets over 500,000 tons per year from California not including glass

WM/RAA has invested over $25 Million in SS technology in California

A vast majority of our residential recycling customers are serviced with single stream collection

Where We Process SS

• Edmonton, Alberta (9/01)• Edmonton, Alberta (9/01)• Cleveland, OH (1/01)• Dayton, OH (9/02)• York, PA (2/02)• Lake County, IL (3/03)• Minneapolis, MN (2/02)• Birmingham, AL (2/02)• Tucson, AZ (10/02)• Santa Maria, CA (6/03)• San Leandro, CA (1998)• Raleigh, NC (1/03)• Visalia, CA (prior 2000)• Napa, CA (2003)• Carson, CA• Pico Rivera, CA• Los Angeles, CA

• Gardena, CA• Phoenix, AZ (1/97)• Santa Rosa, CA (9/01)• Lodi, CA (7/02)• Castroville, CA (8/02)• Binghamton, NY (9/02)• Liverpool, NY (12/02)• Columbus, OH (10/02)• Woodinville, WA (7/03)• Chicago, IL (7/04)• Orlando, FL (planned)• Salt Lake City, UT (4/03)• Jackson, MS (2/04)• Rogers, AR (7/95)

Since Passage of AB 939Diversion is King

• Residential Historic - 25% recycling / 75% disposal

Current Goals - 75% recycling / 25% disposal

• Commercial Historic - Grade Specific (OCC, SWL, SOP)

Current - Grade Indifferent – Commercial Single Stream Processing

Diversion is King

Higher participation rates (participation rates)

– convenience

– simplicity (potentially fewer restricted materials)

Higher recovery rates (lbs/hh/mo)

– higher participation

– more materials in programs

– reduced scavenging

Diversion is King

•What do our numbers show? Based on a survey of California managers

we estimate 20-30% increase in volume after switching to SS

Northwest USA- Tons collected in Skagit and Snomish

County (125,000 HH’s) show tonnage increases of between 7 and 36% after converting to SS

Diversion is King

•What do others numbers show? Dallas, Tx (pilot program)

- 6 lbs/HH/Mo vs 54 lbs/HH/Mo- 25% participation vs 74% participation

Brooklyn Park & Hennepin Recycling Group (41,000 HH)- BP 40 lbs/HH/Mo vs 49 lbs/HH/Mo- BP 46% participation vs 72% participation- HRG 36 lbs/HH/Mo vs 47 lbs/HH/Mo- HRG 50% participation vs 71% participation

Safety is Key Driver

Key Concerns–Safety of our workers–MSW workers – third deadliest occupation in Florida (1993-1997)

–Almost 50% of all MSW workers might expect to suffer muscoskeletal or dermal injuries each year

Safety is Key Driver

Reduced collection safety risks (twisting, sprains, cuts, etc.)

+ Reduced MRF safety risks (cuts, etc.) + Reduced TRIR (both collection and processing) + Reduced employee turnover = Lower workmen’s comp costs

Efficiencies and Economies

Optimize fleet utility — Increase payloads— Reduce drive-times

Improve safety

Increase opportunities — Commercial Single Stream— Multi-family

Efficiencies and Economies

• MRF Equipment Capital intensive ($1MM to $6MM for

equip) Increase production (30 – 40 tph

throughput) Auto-assist separation (screening, optical)

•MRF Operation Improve safety (TRIR reduction) Improve presentation of material for

sorters Improve flexibility & market access

Processing Challenges

Increased residue levels

• Typical 2-stream MRF has about 4% residue (blended value of fiber and container residue)

• Typical single stream MRF has 6-8% residue

• What we are doing: can reduce to less than 4 % with no sort glass and no sort plastic

technologies

Glass breakage

• Typical commingled containers has 50-60% glass breakage

• Typical single stream has 60-90% depending on vehicle and compaction ratios

• What we are doing: can minimize effect with optical sorting and better screening

Quality control of collected materials in fully automated routes

• What we are doing: Use manual or semi-automated routes and using route checkers

Processing Challenges

“The quality of the product going to market. We’ve got to make

sure that what’s going into the bales is meeting the specs of the mills.”

RAA President Pat DeRueda at Waste Expo commenting on

the biggest challenges recycling faces.

Summary of Benefits

Increased diversion through improved participation & lbs. per set-out

Reduce unit costs (time per stop, trucks on street, & processing costs per ton)

Greater employee safety

Improve aesthetics & convenience

Making residential recycling economical and sustainable

“Securing” and growing the residential fiber stream

Questions & Answers