Ann Arbor's attempts to streamline recycling have gone well during its first few weeks.
The city started a single-stream recycling program earlier this month, which allows all recyclables to be placed into one receptacle without sorting. It became a political hot-button issue this year, with opponents saying it wouldn't work smoothly or effectively in Ann Arbor.
Not the case, says Tom McMurtrie, the city's solid waste coordinator. "Things are moving well," he says.
So far, things are being sorted effectively in the facility and new recycling carts are being delivered to residents based on their location in the city; all residents are expected to have their cart by mid-August. Replacing the standard plastic recycling crates, the new carts are similar to the existing trash carts, but have a radio frequency tag which allows them to be scanned when picked up and gives recyclers incentive points for using the RecycleBank program.
McMurtrie says four new recycling trucks will pick up the loads, using biodiesel hybrid hydraulic technology that harnesses the energy that comes from frequent stopping to pick up loads. "It's an appropriate use of the technology," he says. "There's obviously a lot of starting and stopping, and a hybrid is ideal for that."
Many new materials are now accepted with the expanded program, including more plastics. For information on the switch to single stream recycling, click here.
Source: Tom McMurtrie, solid waste coordinator, city of Ann Arbor
Writer: Kristin Lukowski
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