Single Stream Versus Two Stream Recycling:
An Examination Of Costs And Recovery Rates Of
Current Programs In Ontario, Canada
Author(s)
D. Lantz
Abstract
In 2006, the approximately 12 million residents in the province of Ontario,
Canada recycled almost 940,000 metric tonnes of material representing about
192 kg/household, up from 181 kg/household in 2005. The manner in which
these materials are collected and processed varies across the 200 municipalities,
but can be primarily broken down into single stream and two stream (fibres and
containers) programs. Within the province, the debate continues over whether to
go single stream or continue with two stream for the collection and processing of
recyclables.
Although larger programs have tended to go to single stream recycling under
the promise of lower costs, higher recovery and ease for residents, recent
research in Ontario suggests that single stream is not providing the direct benefits
that municipalities expected. Costs are higher than anticipated. Recovery rates
are not typically higher than for two stream programs. Perhaps, more
importantly, product quality issues, particularly with the fibres from single
stream programs have caused such problems with the paper mills, there is a
strong indication that downgrades and significantly lower revenues for
newspaper could be coming in the very near future. The lost revenues from
higher value containers inadvertently being shipped in the fibres stream increases
net costs further.
This paper examines single and two stream recycling programs in Ontario,
sharing recent data on the relative cost differentials (and why they exist) between
the two types of programs. Finally, a potential solution to product quality that
those municipalities that have adopted the single stream recycling approach have
to address will be introduced.
Keywords: recycling, economic analysis, single stream, two stream, recovery
rates, recyclables revenues, product quality.
Keywords
recycling, economic analysis, single stream, two stream, recoveryrates, recyclables revenues, product quality.
Related Book
Other papers in this volume
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