2015 MassRecycle R3 Conference

Michelle Lee Guiney, WM

Total Recycle Program Manager

What’s in Your Recycling: Single Stream Recycling Contamination

March 30, 2015

SSR/MRF Capability

- What is it

- What does it impact

- What is WM doing about it

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Contamination

Contamination Defined Muni Loads - Common Contaminants

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Impact: Entire Recycling Industry Worker Safety, Equipment, Processing, Operations, Value of

Recyclables, Rebates, Availability of End-User Markets

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Contamination Costs OGF to West Coast Port Labor Dispute

• 5 Yr H/L Commodity Values

– OCC $180/$78 Per Ton

– MP $145/$45 Per Ton

– PET $760/$280 Per Ton

– Glass = Negative

• MRF Residue 41k Tons

– 41k x $80/Ton Disposal = $3.2M

– Residue + glass = 22.5% of material has

a negative value

• Volume: RORR

– 13% Recycled/Diverted from LF

– SSR Composition 70% fiber, 14% glass,

and 7% plastics (90% = PET + HDPE)

– Residential material = 2/3 of SSR tons

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WM Solutions: LLA + Communication Protocol Visual Inspection, Tip, Separate, Sort, Weigh

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WM Solutions: Education WM MRF Operations WM RORR

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Placards, Notices, Signs, etc.

LFWD % =

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Educational Tools

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