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.
While it may be frustrating that some of the items you may have such as 5-gallon buckets and other materials may have a recycling symbol on them, or you know that they are made of materials that can be recycled like aluminum siding, we can ONLY accept items that are on our "included" list below. Our recycler is only set up to process the materials of the size and shape of those indicated below. Why is this? We apologize for any inconvienence.
What is included?
01. Paper:
Paperboard boxes (please flatten), corrugated cardboard (please flatten), paper bags, cartons, newspaper, brochures , inserts, junk mail, catalogs, magazines, file folders, office papers, phone books, paperback books (no need to remove paper clips, stamps, address labels, staples, metal fasteners, cellophane address windows, rubber bands, spiral bindings, plastic tabs)
02. Aluminum and steel cans:
Food cans, soda cans, loose lids, caps (emptied and rinsed)
03. Glass:
Jars and bottles
04. Plastics:
food and beverage containers, #1, 2, 4, 5, 7
What cannot be recycled?
01
No plastic bags
02
No scrap metal
03
No recyclables in plastic bags
04
No VHS/VCR tapes
05
No needles or syringes
06
No window panes, mirrors, ceramics & Pyrex dishware
07
No stickers or address label sheet waste
08
No plastics other than those listed
09
No electronic waste (batteries, cell phones, computers)
10
No paint, pesticides, oil and cleansers
11
No motor oil or antifreeze containers
12
No organic material and food waste
13
No waxed paper or waxed cardboard
14
No styrofoam or paper to-go containers
15
No plastic cups
16
No hard cover books
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 a 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.
