1A, Residential Curbside Recycling - Contract Discussion

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have a post-consumer market. Eureka is currently analyzing a possible switch to single-stream collection; however they would continue to collect weekly and would continue manual collection from bins. Eureka may make this switch to single-stream in the next 1-2 years after investing in a conversion of the materials recycling facility (MRF) in Minneapolis. Plastics Over the past year the recycling of plastics has become a controversial topic within our region. For-profit recycling providers have begun accepting all plastic resin types #1 through#7. Simply because a product has the three arrows symbol on it does not make it recyclable. This symbol is not regulated by any federal agency and has no specific meaning. The number within the symbol does indicate the type of resin that makes up the base of the product; though dyes, odors, and many other chemicals can be added to an individual product, which will impact its melting rate, and the manner in which it can be recycled. While the ability to recycle a broader range of plastics has improved over the last couple of years, some of the plastics are exported to foreign markets. Eureka advocates for collection of materials that have verifiable end-use markets and it is more difficult to verify foreign markets. Eureka continues to only accept resin types#1 (PET) and#2 (HDPE)plastic bottles. T Polyethylene 1'erephtha tat e,P l~ Eureka is in the process of analyzing the impact of broadening its plastic collection, and anticipates LZ High,)ens€ty Polyethylene,IIDPl, e including resin types#4 (LDPE), #5 (PP), and#7 Polyvinyl`'''"r'�ePV ("Other") in the next two years. Recycling of 4 Low Density Poltethylen4,LDPl '4 post-consumer plastic packages made from resin r Polypropylene.PP types#3 (PVC) and#6 (PS) are more challenged C PolystyTe>te,Ps because of the extremely low volume. Also,there otlr is a lack of domestic market demand for these types of plastics. Resin Identification Codes(RIC) If the breadth of materials collected is a high priority item for the Council, this may impact the decision to extend the contract with Eureka, or to go out for RFP. The other for-profit recycling haulers are providing the convenience of single-stream service and more plastic pick up, even though not all of the plastic is winding up in the recycling stream. Orizanies Organic waste such as food waste represents 22% of the total trash collected in Ramsey County. As a result, separate organics collection will be a growing focus at both the State and County level. The County has set a goal that municipalities should provide some sort of organics collection by 2016. While few if any providers currently collect organics materials for recycling, P:IPlanninglReeyelmg&Garbage 12012109-24-12-Work Session-Memo-Recycling Contract Discussion.doc Page 4 of 7