A comparison of single and multi-stream recycling systems in

Ontario, Canada

http://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/4/2/384

By: Dr. Calvin Lakhanhttp://wastewiki.info.yorku.ca/

lakhanc@yorku.ca

Overview• Study examined differences in cost and recycling

performance between single and multi stream recycling systems in Ontario

• 223 Municipalities over a 10 year period• Study focused on:

• Are material management costs for single stream less than multi stream?

• Are recycling rates for single stream higher than multi stream?

• Do multi stream systems report higher revenue from sale of recyclables?

Methods

• Data obtained from the Waste Diversion Ontario Data Call (223 municipalities over a 10 year period)

• Regression model developed to gauge the effect of single vs multi stream recycling systems on recycling rates and program costs

• Variables in the regression include:

RR = Municipal Recycling Rates (%)SS = 1 if municipality has single stream system (0 otherwise)PC = Municipal Program Costs ($)TP = Municipal transfer payments ($)PE = Municipal promotion and education expenditures (per household) ($)PAYT = 1 if municipality implements pay as you throw scheme (0 otherwise)CURB = 1 if municipality implements a curbside recycling system (0 otherwise)INC = Median income Per Capita ($)AGE = Median AgeEDUC = % of Population with College education or higherDEN = Population Density per square kilometer 

Results

• Single stream systems more expensive than multi stream systems• Single stream systems recovery slightly more material

Conclusions • Study findings contravene previous investigations which

normally show that single stream recycling is cheaper• Municipalities must consider site and situation specific

factors when deciding between a single or multi stream recycling system