Sorted recycling systems win out over single-stream recycling in a head-to-head competition when the municipal playing fields are even, according to a research report that tracked outcomes in United Kingdom markets over a four-year period.

The study, which was published by 4R Environmental on March 28, provides an analysis of 65 bids between 2008 and 2012. It revealed that 51% of all recycling collection services resulted in curbside sorting, even though that system was only allowed in 45 of the 65 municipalities tracked. Overall, 28% were awarded to single-stream commingling and 21% resulted in dual-stream systems.

In 29 cases, there was a genuine competition between systems, said Andy Bond, director of 4R Environmental Ltd. and the report´s author. In those cases, 59% of the municipalities selected curb-sort, 31% selected dual stream, and 10% selected single-stream. 

"And even if you count all the procurements that curb-sort isn´t allowed to tender for, it is still the most successful system because it´s got more than 50% of the procurement where a local authority has gone to the market....