Recycling: so where does our trash really go?

‘Single-stream’ waste sorted and sold

By Angie Hund | Manor Ink

Sullivan County, NY – Though it’s simple to throw your recyclable items into the bin next to your trash can and think no further, do you know where your recycling ends up? A thought raised among consumers of plastics, paper and metal-based products (and that’s all of us) might be, “What happens after the bin?” According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, an average American’s trash consists of 75 percent recyclable products, but only 30 percent of them end up recycled.

While these statistics sum up all of America’s recycling habits, Manor Ink focused on the recycling process here in Sullivan County. Last month, the Ink sat down with the county’s Recycling Coordinator, Kassie Thelman. In 2023, the county collected 95,000 tons of garbage, but only 30 percent of that waste stream is recycled. Because Sullivan has a smaller population, there’s less emphasis on recycling. But residents also tend to find it more “convenient” to not sort their garbage.

Approaches to recycling

In the world of recycling, there are many ways to divide waste and distribute it, based on its material composition. The best known ways to recycle include single-stream, dual-stream and multi-stream recycling. Generally, smaller, less environmentally conscious areas like Sullivan County tend to use the single-stream recycling method.

Single-stream means that all recyclable items, regardless of their material, are thrown into one container. This is generally not considered the most efficient or ethical way to recycle, because there is a risk of contamination. “It’s not the cleanest way to do it, but it does allow us to cover the biggest population,” Thelman said. For the past ten years, Sullivan County has subscribed to single-stream recycling after previously using dual-stream.

Thelman expressed frustration that waste company employees often do not carry out the recycling process. “We have a hard time getting our garbage haulers to recycle properly,” she said. “For instance, transfer stations send up two trucks, one to pick up garbage and one to pick up recycling. But sometimes the materials are mixed together.” Going to the dump themselves may be a more efficient way for residents to properly recycle.

Processing Sullivan’s recyclables

The trip your waste goes through is a lengthy, multi-faceted journey. For context, “transfer station” refers to a site where recyclables and refuse are collected and sorted, in preparation for processing or for depositing in the landfill. There are six transfer stations in the county, the main facility being in Monticello, where all recycling ends up on the “tipping floor.”

From there, it gets scooped up by giant machines, put into tractor-trailers, and shipped out of the county. At a single-stream sorting facility, it all gets separated based on material types.

“Some of it gets measured by density, placed on a big conveyor. It’s done by hand at the beginning,” Thelman said. “After that extensive process, the recycling gets baled up and sold off separately.”

Thelman also shared some tips and information to help residents follow the recycling protocol. “In the county, we accept food-grade plastics, numbers 1 through 7.” To determine a container’s recyclability, she said, look for a triangle labeled with those numbers on its bottom.

Plastics without those numbers are not accepted. This means Styrofoam, cling wrap, disposable cups and bowls, mailing packaging, loose-leaf binders, laundry detergent jugs and medical tubing are not recyclable. As for food waste, Thelman suggests composting discarded food at home. The county Department of Solid Waste and Recycling has partnered with Ulster County to encourage households to compost.

“We’re collecting food scraps at our transfer stations, and we’re transporting them to Ulster County. We have 400 bins, and about 150 left for our pilot program. Participants can bring their food waste to our transfer stations for free disposal.”

Did you know? If you add an unrecyclable item to your recycling bin, it’s considered contaminated and will be considered garbage. It all starts with what we put in our bins at home.