2015 MassRecycle R3 Conference
Michelle Lee Guiney, WM
Total Recycle Program Manager
What’s in Your Recycling: Single Stream Recycling Contamination
March 30, 2015
SSR/MRF Capability
- What is it
- What does it impact
- What is WM doing about it
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Contamination
Impact: Entire Recycling Industry Worker Safety, Equipment, Processing, Operations, Value of
Recyclables, Rebates, Availability of End-User Markets
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Contamination Costs OGF to West Coast Port Labor Dispute
• 5 Yr H/L Commodity Values
– OCC $180/$78 Per Ton
– MP $145/$45 Per Ton
– PET $760/$280 Per Ton
– Glass = Negative
• MRF Residue 41k Tons
– 41k x $80/Ton Disposal = $3.2M
– Residue + glass = 22.5% of material has
a negative value
• Volume: RORR
– 13% Recycled/Diverted from LF
– SSR Composition 70% fiber, 14% glass,
and 7% plastics (90% = PET + HDPE)
– Residential material = 2/3 of SSR tons
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WM Solutions: LLA + Communication Protocol Visual Inspection, Tip, Separate, Sort, Weigh
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