Q : What happens to my recyclables after I place the blue bin to the curbside ? — Edward S . A : Millcreek Township curbside recycling is sent to Waste Management ’ s single-stream Material Recovery Facility ( MRF ) located on Neville Island in Pittsburgh , PA . This sorting facility is equipped to sort for the following material :

All recyclables entering the Neville Island MRF are initially weighed by the truckload and then dropped into the receiving area . From there , they are scooped up and placed onto a conveyor belt headed for the first sorting station in the single-stream recycling process .

1 . MANUAL PRE-SORT At this station , WM employees pull any unwanted material off the conveyor belt that cannot run through the system , which is the first step in combating contamination . Employees have pulled off a variety of unacceptable items in the past including bowling balls , Styrofoam coolers , curling irons , car parts , and couch cushions just to name a few . All of the material removed from the line will be sent to the landfill since it is considered trash or contamination .

2 . FIBER SORTING WITH SIZING SCREENS Sizing screens are the next step in the process designed to remove cardboard from the conveyor belt , while another moving screen separates out the smaller remaining fiber material ( paper , news print , chipboard , etc .). Unfortunately , these rotating machines become very heavily contaminated with plastic bags , wires , and other stringy material that prevents the screens from doing their job properly . At the end of each shift , Waste Management must lower employees into the screens to remove any remaining debris .

3 . METALS REPELLED USING MAGNETS While lightweight fibers move over top of the screens , heavier metal and plastic containers are expected to fall through them . A magnet is then used to remove metal cans , while an eddy current repels aluminum cans . Aluminum foil , pie pans , and large metal objects like car parts are considered unacceptable materials at recycling facilities because they do not properly fall through the sizing screens as designed .

4 . SEPARATING PLASTIC WITH OPTIC SORTERS After removing fiber and metal cans from the conveyor belt , plastics are last on the line . The Neville Island MRF uses optic sorters to recover plastic bottles , jugs , and tubs . Waste

Management actively sorts for # 1 and # 2 plastics , which include pop bottles , water bottles , detergent bottles , and milk jugs . All other plastic gets baled together as “ mixed plastic ”. At this station along the conveyor belt , an optic sorter uses a light to identify plastic containers by its color , size , shape , structural properties and chemical composition . The computer controlling the identification process calculates the position of the desired recyclable on the belt and triggers a blast of compressed air separating it from the rest of the material on the conveyor belt .

5 . QUALITY CONTROL & BALER MACHINE After all material is sorted , everything is run through a quality control check . Once material passes the visual inspection , it is on its way to be baled . Material bales weigh between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds and are predominately the way recycling facilities ship material to end users .

In recent years , reports have shown rising rates in contamination coming in through recycling . It is important , now more than ever , that good quality recyclables are sent to the Neville Island MRF for processing . By keeping trash out of the recycling stream , Waste Management is able to ensure that their recycling systems are capturing excellent material that can be made in to new products ultimately closing the loop on recycling .

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To have your recycling questions answered by Millcreek ’ s Recycling Coordinator , please submit an email to jstutzman @ millcreektownship . com or call 814.833.1111 ext . 317 .

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