Dive Brief:
- Six counties in northeastern Pennsylvania joined forces to operate a material recovery facility (MRF) in Montgomery, PA that will allow residents to recycle a greater range of recyclables.
- The single-stream, 60,000 square foot MRF cost $5.3 million, and will be available to residents who live in the surrounding areas—and possibly even beyond the six counties in the future.
- A new recycling program was launched to coincide with the opening of the plant: the “One for All” campaign promotes single-stream recycling to those living in the region.
Dive Insight:
Participating counties include Lycoming, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Union, and Snyder counties. Residents can request bins from their hauler to start participating in single-stream.
Lycoming County Resource Management Services (LCRMS) and the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College presented local residents with a survey to test general knowledge and perceptions about single-stream recycling. 76% of residents embraced single-stream due to its convenience, simplicity, and environmental aspect. Most of those surveyed suggested they would recycle more if services were available, and would change waste firms if an alternative company offered single-stream.
Jason Yorks, the Lycoming County recycling coordinator, said that with the new program underway, the area will now be capable of “preserving valuable landfill space, increas[ing] our capacity, hav[ing] a more cost-effective, convenient way to recycle, and hopefully improv[ing] local recycling participation.”
The method has proved popular in other states. In February, Minneapolis, MN released data showing that recycling rates in the city increased since single-stream recycling was introduced to residents.
