Cities Adopt Cheaper, Simpler Recycling

"Say goodbye to those little recycle bins. No more banging around in the garage tying up cardboard or separating paper from cans and bottles. In the 21st century, all recyclables go into one big fat tub.

...Unlike today's dual-stream approach - where residents separate cans and bottles from paper - single-stream recycling puts all recyclables in the same 95-gallon bin. Proponents say the large bin and no separation make recycling simpler, faster, and cheaper, thanks to automation.

...Some ardent recyclers deride single-stream systems for generating too much waste - with up to a quarter of the material at some facilities ending up going to a landfill anyway. Meanwhile, a good dual-stream program may produce just 2 to 3 percent "residuals" bound for the landfill."