Dive Brief:

• Residents will receive new 96-gallon bins and can mingle tin, aluminum, cardboard, paper, newspaper, magazines, glass and plastic. Waste Management, which has a 10-year contract with the city, will collect the recyclables. Materials will then be brought to the West Fargo Transfer Station, then transported to the Twin Cities MRF in Minneapolis.
• The plan was proposed in October, 2014 by Public Works Director Chris Brungardt.
• The city projects a savings of $23,000 per month if 280 tons of recyclables are collected.

Dive Insight:

Many towns across the country are putting together plans that include single-stream recycling. Fairhope, AL is trying to increase its recycling rate through a co-mingled program. Decatur, IL announced its single-stream collection was a success as figures reflect a skyrocketing rate of 57%. Success is not always a guarantee; St. Paul, MN started a co-mingled collection, and its rate actually dropped. The city has plans to implement a series of outside-the-box ideas in an attempt to raise its rate.