Municipal Recycling

The 21 owner-municipalities of Regional Waste Systems (RWS) have voted to bring single-stream recycling to Maine after studying the prospect for nearly two years.

RWS Chairman Jeffrey Jordan of South Portland, Maine, says, "This is an investment in leading edge technology, and the RWS facility will be the first in Maine."

Jordan says he expects the $3.7 million system to be complete and operational in the winter of 2007.

Having examined four proposals, the board of directors voted in mid-May to institute single-stream recycling, awarding the equipment contract to Van Dyk Baler Corp., Stamford, Conn. "This generation of equipment is so advanced that it includes an optical sorter, which identifies No. 1 plastic and separates it from other plastics," RWS General Manager Kevin Roche says.

Linda Boudreau, chair of the RWS recycling committee that researched single-stream technology, reviewed proposals and made the final recommendation to the board. Boudreau says many benefits are associated with single-stream recycling, including increased participation, reduced collection and idling time and less truck traffic to the RWS recycling center.

Roche says that tipping fees for trash will not increase for member communities and that funds will come from reserves and earnings from the sale of recyclables. Revenues (after expenses) are projected to be $4.5 million throughout 15 years.

RWS conducted successful single-stream pilot projects in Portland and Lyman before arriving at its decision to move to single stream.

RWS serves about 20 percent of Maine’s total population.