The simpler something is to do, the more people are likely to do it. That theory can be applied to a number of different aspects of life, but especially to something like recycling.
When municipalities, businesses and more make it easy for people to recycle, they’re much more likely to do so rather than throwing reusable waste in the regular trash. That’s the idea behind commingled recycling.
Also known as single-stream recycling, this system allows all recyclable materials to be put into one bin, which is then mixed into a single collection truck. By taking this approach, recycling becomes much easier for people, since they don’t have to sort recyclables by type.
While many people would prefer the single-stream recycling method, it’s not always available. Some municipalities still follow the traditional model of separating recyclable items by type and collecting them either on the same or different days.
When this is the case, it’s always best to separate all recyclable items, such as aluminum, paper, plastic and glass, into its own bin.
Understanding Commingled Waste
Commingled waste refers to mixing recyclable items into the same bin. For the most part, this refers to all dry mixed recyclables, such as cardboard, paper and glass.
This is also separate from general waste, which includes all types of waste, whether or not it’s recyclable.
While commingled waste is a simplified way that businesses and households can recycle, it does require certain specialized equipment and processes at the recycling facility.
Material Recycling Facilities (MRFs) use what’s known as an eddy current separator to efficiently separate non-ferrous materials such as copper and aluminum from other streams of waste. These facilities also typically employ magnetic devices to identify and then separate all ferrous materials, such as steel or iron, from the waste streams as well.
These advanced processing systems are specifically designed to handle the complexities that sorting all these materials brings to a materials recovery facility.
That’s why even if your commingled waste is collected together, it’s still important to separate out the different recyclable streams within it. This makes the process much smoother, quicker and more efficient once the waste is taken to a processing facility.
Managing Food Waste in Commingled Recycling
One of the biggest challenges and detriments to commingled recycling is contamination. Recyclables can easily become contaminated when different materials are mixed in one collection bin.
Not only does this make the recycling process more difficult and less efficient, but it also can result in recyclable materials ending up in landfills. And when additional waste is sent to landfills, it results in pollution — to the water and soil as harmful chemicals can seep down into the ground, and to the air, as greenhouse gasses are emitted when the materials break down.
A major contaminant in commingled recycling is food waste. It’s crucial that you avoid putting food waste into these mixed recycling bins, as it can affect the quality of waste streams and their recyclability.
By separating food waste from commingled waste, it keeps the waste “cleaner” while also reducing odors that emanate from rotting food.
Not only that, but food waste can actually be put to good use. It can be sent to anaerobic digestion, for instance, which can then produce soil conditioner and liquid fertilizer. The methane that’s captured can also be used to generate electricity.
This is why it’s so important to separate food waste from commingled recycling and dispose of it properly so it can be put to good use.
Best Practices for Effective Recycling
To ensure that items you recycle are processed properly, there are a few tips that you should follow.
First, make sure to use the correct containers and recycling bins to manage your waste. This includes using blue recycling carts with blue lids for all recyclables.
Make sure not to include any broken glass in commingled recycling because it can easily cause contamination. Make sure to only put recyclable materials in the bin and properly dispose of other materials such as light bulbs and food waste.
The night before the day your waste is scheduled to be collected, put all commingled materials to the curb in the proper bin per your municipality and/or waste management company. Make sure not to put any plastic bags or loose material into the bin, as only commingled materials should be collected.
It’s also important to do your best to avoid contaminating cardboard and paper. The best way to do this is to store them separately and keep them dry before putting them out for collection.
Overcoming Common Challenges
Like anything, there are positives and negatives to commingled recycling.
The fact that recyclables can be mixed into one container makes it easier for businesses and households to recycle, which often results in higher rates of recycling. In addition, the fact that the waste can be collected by single compartment trucks results in the collection being more efficient, which reduces time spent on the road as well as vehicle emissions.
At the same time, there are downsides to commingled recycling.
Contamination is always a concern because contaminated materials can’t be recycled properly. This can actually lead to fewer usable materials being collected, even if the overall tonnage of materials collected is higher.
It also costs roughly $3 more per ton to do commingled waste compared to dual-stream recycling. That’s because the separate containers that are used in dual-stream recycling facilities are better at sorting and, as a result, create potentially higher-quality recycled materials.
That’s why it’s essential for everyone to understand what commingled recycling actually means, as well as to follow the best practices for effective recycling.
Making Commingled Recycling Work
While there are certainly challenges to overcome, there’s no denying that commingled recycling is often viewed as an effective way to simplify waste management, which often increases recycling rates.
In fact, this alone is a major reason why many municipalities and businesses are moving to commingled recycling where possible.
Communities and individuals can continue to make a positive impact on the environment by understanding exactly what commingled waste is and how it should be properly managed.
By overcoming common challenges to commingled waste and following recycling best practices, commingled recycling can be a sustainable and successful solution for waste management for municipalities, households and businesses alike.
