2005 Recycling Pilot Program Report

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Apri128, 2005 Page 5 The WM/RAA report provided a separate breakdown of products and process residue from both thc "single stream process system" (i.c., paper recovery line} and the "container process systcm" {i.e., cantainer recovery line}. The fust paper ("single stream") line produced about two percent residue of total input. The second, container line prodnced about four percent residue of total input. Color-mixed, broken glass was defined as a product by the WM/RAA study and represented 11 percent of the total input. Color-sorted glass, in contrast, represented two percent of total input. The residue estimate of 5.95 percent of total input is reasonable if the mixed-color, broken glass is assuzned to be a marketed, recycled commodity. If nQt, the total residue, inclndu�g such mixed-coIor glass, is about 17 percent. The other consiituents of the residue rnake up a minor fraction (e.g., film pIastic such as bags, fluff, �nes, grit, other trash and floor sweepings). Therefore, one of the key, remaining questions not answered by the WM/RAA report is how much more does mixcd-color, broken glass increase within the single stream process system at the WM/RAA Mimieapolis MRF as compared to glass from two stream collections processed directly into the container process system at the MRF. Witliou.t a comparable two-sort test and analysis, it is not possible for �Jae Project Team to estimate. Other A�a�Eable Data Several recent stadies and municipal recycling contracts are directly relevant to tYus analysis of processing residuals. Eureka Recycling (Mi�aneapolis, MN), under its former structure within the Saint Paul Neighborhood Energy Consortium, published an extensive study of a similar p�Iot collec#ion study as conducted in 2001. Six different collection pilot routes were established similar to the Roseville pilot study desigi►. (For more details, see the Eureka web page: www.EurekaRecyclin� g.org.) The Eureka study anaiyzed their pilat results for rnany of the same variables, inclucling: M Percent increase � tons recycied; ■ City-wide materials that could be collected (as projected by pilot results); ■ Percent material ioss during processing; ■ Net program material recycled; and ■ Net overall percent increase in tons recycled. The Eureka analysis estimated processing residuals from a national study conducted by Governmental Advisory l�ssociates (GAA} in 2002. The es#irraates from GAA, as reported by Eureka, stated the average residual rate among the suraeyed single sfream programs was 1 G.6 percent. Eureka further analyzed their pilot results with iwo alternative definitions of "maierial loss during processing": Ol_ p0253-10101-0101 � 070001 � 13500 P:113500 Ramsey Co. 2003�RTA�RosevillclF,AlDrut}Residuafslvlemo042805_doc DRAI� I'