Why is Single Stream Recycling Such a Problem for Toronto – Here’s Our Take
Single stream recycling is a system wherein all paper fibers and containers, and all recyclables together are picked up and then sorted into separate commodities at a later date. Usually, someone at a recycling facility will divide up what is newspaper, what’s cardboard, plastic, glass, and so on. This produces a commingled mix of recyclables which is argued to be easier for the consumer, although it creates increased costs at a recycling facility to have to sort everything out.
Single stream recycling is supported by some who argue that it is easy and convenient, ensures recycling is being handled by waste professionals, and that it increases waste diversion. While these are all true to a degree, there’s a reason why single stream recycling in Toronto continues to lose support. Although it is easy and convenient, yes unquestionably, it produces what’s essentially a second collection of garbage. The waste professionals who have to sort through recycling oftentimes are faced with cross-contamination issues. Also, the way in which single stream can cross-contaminate, there are serious questions about how impactful this recycling system is on waste diversion.
The negatives of single stream recycling are that it can down-cycle and downgrade what would otherwise be high-value, quality recycling materials. For some facilities, they end up discarding materials which cannot be sorted for whatever reason and/or which are deemed unrecyclable. The ways in which it makes recycling more complex on the facility end is why so many waste management and waste diversion plants do not support single stream. Consumers oftentimes throw in unrecyclables with recyclables and this lowers the economic value of the recycling materials collected. Needless to say, there’s a lot to get to know about single stream recycling, for those that want a full look at what it’s done to waste disposal and recycling in Toronto.
In any major Canadian city, you’ll find single stream recycling. Hopefully, this will change as the public becomes more educated on the subject and as more facilities are built. Regardless of what’s being shared by supporters arguing in favor single stream, it’s well established this is a system which creates waste out of recyclables. It sends this waste back into the landfill, primarily due to contamination and/or being no longer fit for the recycling-and-recovery marketplace. Young Canadians are taught in school the three Rs – recycle, reuse, and reduce. We know plastics, paper, glass, and metal do not come from the same place nor are they sold together post-recycling. It’s time to make a change, away from ‘easy’ and towards ‘efficient’.
In Toronto, it is a question of cost as to why we do not have a multi-stream recycling system. Current collections cost are $65/tonne while processing cost is $128/tonne. It is believed multi-stream recycling could increase collections significantly and it is unclear whether it would save enough on processing costs to make up the difference. Presumably with multi-stream recycling, higher percentages of what’s collected could be recycled resulting in more product for the marketplace. Sans further study, it’s hard to estimate the true impact moving away from single stream collection would have on Toronto’s economics.
Core Mini Bins is a supporter of multi stream recycling and more efficient waste management practices in the GTA. For all your waste disposal and recycling needs, contact the professionals at Core Mini Bins to arrange a pick-up or appointment.
