Single Stream Recycling

Single Stream Recycling

• Municipality : Huntington Woods
• Population : 5,815
• Governance : City Manager
• Grant Allocation : $104,000

Lessons Learned

• Make sustainable practices the default choice
• Education is key for widespread adoption

Introduction

Recycling plays a pivotal role in sustainability, and the cities of Huntington Woods and Beverly Hills, Michigan, have embraced this mission through their Single Stream Recycling Pilot Program. Supported by the EECBG grant and in collaboration with SOCRRA (Southeastern Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority), this initiative aims to make recycling more accessible, efficient, and impactful for residents.

The Takeaway

By providing one convenient, weatherproof cart that residents can put ALL their recycling into without sorting, residents in the pilot program areas now have no excuse for not recycling. Indeed, it is even easier now than putting something in the garbage and thus, can become the “default” choice.
Some residents were wary of using the cart, given that it was a change. Current “superrecyclers” were dubious of doing things differently whereas some senior citizens were wary of the cart’s size and weight. Program advocates have noted that one on one citizen interaction has eased trepidation regarding the new program. Additionally, SOCRRA had to educate haulers regarding the new pickup procedure.

Scope of Work

Project Results

The single stream recycling pilot has resulted in a modest increase in recycling among the households involved in it. Huntington Woods is recording a 5% increase in recycling, while Beverly Hills is recording a 17% increase in recycling. For the 1,104 homes in the pilot areas, this results in 60,000 lbs of additional recycling per year, earning more money for the organization. SOCRRA holds regular recycling workshops open to the public in all communities that are a part of the organization.

Emissions Avoided/ Electricity Conserved

Criteria Air Pollutants	4.2 metric tonnes
Greenhouse Gases	metric tonnes CO2 eq. 517.8
Coal	2.9 short tons
Propane	gallons 307
Natural Gas	thousand cubic feet 110
Electricity	megawatt hours 18.3

1. Criteria Air Pollutants Reduced
   • A total of 4.2 metric tonnes of pollutants avoided, showcasing improved air quality.
2. Greenhouse Gas Reductions
   • Significant reductions of 517.8 metric tonnes CO2 equivalent, helping combat climate change.
3. Coal Usage Decrease
   • A reduction of 2.9 short tons of coal consumed, cutting reliance on fossil fuels.
4. Propane and Natural Gas Savings
   • 307 gallons of propane and 110 thousand cubic feet of natural gas saved, indicating better resource efficiency.
5. Electricity Savings
   • 18.3 megawatt hours of electricity conserved, equivalent to powering multiple homes, contributing to lower energy bills and sustainability.

Key Takeaways

• These initiatives effectively lower harmful emissions and improve energy efficiency.
• Reduced coal and greenhouse gas emissions reflect substantial progress toward cleaner energy systems.
• The conservation efforts directly benefit communities by reducing energy costs and environmental impact.

Such results underscore the importance of implementing energy-efficient practices for long-term environmental and economic gains.

Challenges Overcome

• Lack of dollars to provide necessary technology
• Convincing recycling haulers to use new technology or invest in new technology.
• Educating residents and haulers on using a new system.

Further Resources