Single-Stream Recycling
What is single-stream recycling?
Single-stream recycling is a process by which materials are collected and mixed together for processing at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). This is for SECCRA's drop-off centers only. If someone picks up your trash and recycling, ask them for their specific rules and methods for recycling
What is included?
- Paper: newspaper, office paper, junk mail, cereal and soft drink boxes, corrugated cardboard.
- Aluminum and steel cans: food cans, soda cans
- Glass: jars and bottles
- Plastics: All containers #1 - #7
What cannot be recycled?
- No plastic bags
- No recyclables in plastic bags
- No caps or lids on containers
- No liquids
- No ceramics or non-recyclable glass
- No diapers or bio-hazardous waste
- No hazardous waste
- No scrap metal
- No frozen food boxes
What happens to the single-stream recycling once it’s collected by SECCRA?
Once the single-stream materials are collected by SECCRA they are taken to either SECCRA's Intermediate Processing Facility (IPC), where it is loaded into tractor-trailers, or directly to an MRF.
What happens at the MRF?
The MRF uses a system of sorting mechanisms (machines and people), which divides the recyclables into different categories.
Once things are separated what happens to them?
Once the recyclables have been separated at the MRF, they are then sent out to the different "markets," where the actual recycling of the material happens.