Dive Brief:
- Augusta, ME, is implementing a co-mingled recycling program for residents.
- The project will be tested for a six-month timeframe; if it succeeds, the city could decide to offer single-stream permanently.
- The City Council voted in favor of the pilot program and authorized Augusta to contract with Ecomaine, a Portland, ME,-based waste and recycling company.
Dive Insight:
Here’s the drawback: households looking to participate in single-stream must drop off their recyclables at a specified location. The program is not part of current curbside collection services. One benefit to residents is that a greater range of materials will be accepted in the expanded collections project.
If the city decides to move forward with its tentative plan to introduce full-blown single-stream recycling in the city, it would cost an estimated $200,000. The budget would allow for the recycling services to include residential curbside pick-up.
Decatur, IL, recently touted its co-mingled recycling program as a success. The town implemented single-stream in 2011; since then, the recycling rate among residents shot up to 57% from a 12% rate before the program was offered.