UMaine Campus Switches to Single-Stream Recycling
The University of Maine has joined the growing number of communities that have made the shift to single-stream recycling, a system that simplifies recycling for the entire campus community.
Casella Waste Management was selected to manage the new recycling method through a competitive, publicly advertised process in July of 2011.
By accepting a wider variety of materials and allowing them to all be placed in one container, single-stream recycling leads to increased participation and improved recycling rates, according to Lori Lommler, UMaine sustainability coordinator. In residence halls, office buildings, and classroom buildings, recyclable materials can be tossed into any existing blue recycling bin. Gray bins will continue to be used for non-recyclable waste.
The new system began Monday, Aug. 29. UMaine recycling staff will deliver recyclable materials to a consolidation point in Hampden. From there, material will be transported to Casella’s Zero-Sort™ recycling facility in Massachusetts, where it will be processed and marketed.
The switch to single stream recycling eliminates the need for an on-campus sorting facility. This change, combined with other economic factors, led to an Oct. 29 closure date for the Depot at Facilities Management on Rangeley Road. Bottles and cans can be redeemed at one of several local redemption centers including Burby & Bates, Skeeter’s, or through the Clink program at Hannaford. Local residents who may have been bringing material to the depot are encouraged to use their local municipal recycling programs, details of which can be found on their respective websites.
The types of recyclable material has expanded to include all plastics numbered 1-7, window envelopes, bottles or jugs for food, beverages, beauty and cleaning products, dairy tubs, plastic flowerpots, and 5-gallon pails.
Materials that cannot be recycled include Tyvec or plastic envelopes, plastic shopping bags, bubble wrap, Styrofoam, glass windowpanes, mirrors, light bulbs, dishes, drinking glasses, Pyrex or ceramics, or anything in any category with stuck-on food.
The Casella website has additional information (PDF) and specific lists of products that can and cannot be accepted in single-stream recycling.
Lommler says new recycling bins will begin showing up throughout the campus within a few weeks. They will continue to follow the theme of blue for recycling and gray for trash.
Efficiencies gained from the new recycling program, combined with the increased diversion of material from the waste stream, will provide both economic and environmental benefits to the campus community, says Lommler, who can be reached at (207) 581-1571 or by email laura.lommler@umit.maine.edu for more information.
Contact: Lori Lommler, (207) 581- 1571