Transcript Overview of Plastics Recycling

Overview effect of Single
Stream on Plastics Recycling
and Recycling in General
By Tamsin Ettefagh
Of Envision Plastics
First: Who is Envision Plastics?
• Started in June 2001
• Bought FCR and Union Carbides Plastic Recycling
Plants
• Upgraded and expanded the Reidsville FCR plant with
integrating the Union Carbide equipment
• Went from a low of 36 employees and 1.8 million
pounds per month to 60 employees and 4.5 million
pounds per month
• Second Plant started in Chino, CA -October 2001
What does Envision Do?
• We wash HDPE Bottles
• Approximately 2,500,000 bottles each day are
ground, washed, sorted and extruded into pellets
each day by both Envision Plastic Plants.
The Colors we see
• Envision works with over 250,000 shades of
color to develop the colors we sell.
• There may be several thousand shades of a
color that makes up one color we sell month in
month out.
• Envision Sorts 45,000,000 flakes per hour
• Which is close to a million flakes per minute
Now onto Single Stream with a Preview
 A Look Back
 Current Trends
Residential Collection
Processing and Marketing
 Single Stream
Collection and Processing Advantages and
Disadvantages
 Looking Forward
 Conclusions
Definitions:
 Curb Sort: Each individual recyclable was
sorted at the curb into different compartments
on the truck.
 Dual Stream: Fiber was separated from
containers into two different compartments on
the truck.
 Single Stream: Fiber and containers
commingled together in the same recycling
compartment on the truck.
A Brief History
• Late 1800’s - Recycler’s went through cities ringing a bell on horse
drawn carriages collecting from residents paper metal and clothing.
• 1950’s - Many cities had residential newspaper pick-ups separate
from the trash. These generally faded out over 10 years.
• Mid 1980’s - Modern curbside dual stream programs became popular
• Early 1990’s - First single stream program began in Phoenix AZ.
• Late 1990 - Early 2000’s single stream taking off across the country.
Collection Trends
Recycling Bins
>
Recycling Carts
Manual
>
Automated
Processing
SINGLE STREAM MRF Tipping Floor
Transport Conveyor
Pre-Sort Station
Post-Sort Station
Marketing
Looking Forward:
Single Stream
In 1997, there were approx. 4 single stream
recycling programs across the U.S. Now,
there are over 95.
Advantages
 1. Cost of collection is lower
 Easier for the resident to recycle
 Increases recycling rates
 Encourages innovation in recycling
equipment
 Increases the tonnages for MRF’s to process
LOWER COLLECTION COSTS
 2. Ability to utilize fewer, larger containers
and collect more tons for less money
 Less driver turnover / better attendance
 Less driver worker compensation claims
 Automated bin pick averages 800 to 1000
homes per day with one driver while the old dual
stream system averages
400 to 600 homes per
day with driver and helper
BETTER FOR THE RESIDENT
3. The newer wheeled containers have over 5 times
the capacity and ease moving the recyclables to
the curb
 Lids keep material dry and contained
 Convenience encourages participation
INCREASES RECYCLING RATES
 4. Tonnage increases from 25 to 100% when
single stream is implemented
 Example: City of Los Angeles (East Valley
district) changed from dual stream to single
stream in 1998. Net recycling tonnage went
from 1900 tons per month to 4500 tons per
month.
More Advantages to “Single Stream”
For Plastics
5. With effective promotion, a single Stream
program:
• Simplifies the educational message
• Increases recovery of PET and HDPE bottles
• Reduces non-bottle plastic contamination such
as glass, grit, and dirt.
• New Technology has made it easier to sort
multiple commodities
IMPROVED RECYCLING EQUIPMENT
 Single stream has forced the recycling industry
into new innovative sorting processes:
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–
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Disc Screens
Air classification systems
Trommel screens
Eddy-current and magnetic separators
Optical automated sorting is now being tested
at select locations
Disadvantages
 Processing costs are higher
 End products are more contaminated
What are some of Single Stream’s
weak points?
• If the education and wrong equipment are in place then
the millage loss increases for the MRF and the Mill.
• The Paper Mills state that there were 39Million pounds
of Plastics sent to their paper mills that came from
Single Stream What type of Plastic needs questioning?
• The Glass cullet has increased the wear and tear on the
Paper Mill’s equipment’
• The Glass cullet from single stream has more mixed
colored which in turn makes it harder to market and
due to other contamination there have been weak spots
in Glass’s Final product.
HIGHER PROCESSING COSTS
 All commodities are mixed together so it requires more labor
to separate
 Extra MRF space is required as sorting systems are much
larger
 Initial investment in sorting equipment is high. The newest
single stream lines cost more than $2,500,000 without land,
balers, and installation
Paper Mills and Single Stream
 Recently completed study by AF&PA states overall
system wide expenses increased an average of $3/ton
for paper collected in single stream programs:
• Curbside collection costs average $15/ton less
• Sorting costs at MRF average $10/ton more
• Mills operating and maintenance costs increased an average
of $8/ton ($50 million annually)
Why Consider “Single Stream”
For Plastics?
The #1 problem that plastic
recyclers face is lack of raw
material …(PET & HDPE
bottles)
Why Consider “Single Stream” For Plastics?
A problem facing communities is that recovery
rates for plastic bottles are declining despite an
increase in pounds of plastics generated each
year…
• Look at the fuel cost today and what it would
have cost to pick up the curbside separated vs
the single stream
Why Consider All Plastic Bottles as
part of Single Stream?
Because 96 % of all plastic bottles are
PET and HDPE!
Other
4%
HDPE
43%
PET
53%
Increased in Contamination?
 HDPE and PET bottles constitute a higher
percentage of all plastic material collected
 Percentage of non-bottle rigid plastic
containers are typically decreased; e.g. films,
bags, trays
So Why Consider “Single Stream”?
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For the Consumer
More responsive service
Ability to add commodities
Local contacts in some cases
No sorting for the hauler
More convenient when same day as trash pick
up
• Lower cost for hauling
Increased Contamination at the MRF with
Single Stream?
Not if the program is properly launched
with education and follow up.
Not with holding consumers accountable by
leaving contaminates in the bin or Cart in
the beginning
With Education consider
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Full training of Staff
Doorhangers
Articles and Press Releases
Information in the delivered bins or carts
Stickers on bins and carts about what is not allowed
Web Page
Follow up press releases
Leaving materials in bin with a check off list preprinted
sticky
Increased Contamination at the Mill with
Single Stream?
• Not if the Mrf used the right equipment and
followed up with feed back to the hauler about
the contamination.
Summary Conclusions:
COLLECTING SINGLE STREAM:
1.
Allows a simplified message
2.
Can increase household participation
3.
Increases capture of PET & HDPE bottles
4.
Improves operating costs per ton when more
pounds are processed and lowers cost to the
consumer
5.
Diverts more tons for recycling and less tons
to the landfill