Help & Support

Frequently Asked Questions:

Single-Stream Curbside Recycling

More Questions? Call our CITIZENS' RESPONSE LINE at 1-800-404-7080.

Q) What is single-stream recycling?
A) Single-Stream recycling is a recycling process in which materials are collected all mingled together with no sorting required by individual recyclers. So cans and bottles can be recycled together with newspaper, cardboard, etc.
Q) What happens to the single-stream recycling once its collected by DSWA?
A) Once the single-stream materials are collected by DSWA they are taken to either the Delaware Recycling Center (DRC) or the Milford Transfer Station. The recyclable materials are then transferred to trucks and taken to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where the recyclable materials are separated and sent to various markets for sale. MRFs that DSWA has sent single-stream materials to include:

FACILITY

COMMODITY PURCHASED

TOWN

STATE

Green Earth Recycling

Single-stream

Philadelphia

PA

Blue Mountain (FCR)

Single-stream

Camden

NJ

Omni Recycling

Single-stream

Cinnaminson

NJ

Owl Corporation

Single-stream
Cardboard

Dundalk

MD

Greenstar, Inc

Single-stream

Allentown

PA

Galaxy Recycling

Cardboard

Edison

NJ

All-American Recycling

Cardboard

Jersey City

NJ

Metropolitan Recycling

Cardboard

New York City

NY

All-Star Shredding

Cardboard

New Castle

DE

New Journey Recycling

Single-stream
Cardboard

Middlesex

NJ

NuWay Recycling

Single-stream
Cardboard

Perth Amboy

NJ

Eagle Recycling

Cardboard

Salisbury

MD

 
Q) What happens at a MRF?
A) A MRF uses a system of sorting mechanisms, which can separate the recyclables into individual material groups in preparation for sending to their respective market. The link here provides a video showing what a typical MRF does. See a MRF in Action by clicking here!
Q) Once things are separated what happens to them?
A) Once the recyclables have been separated at the MRF, they are then sent out to the different markets, where the actual recycling of the material happens.
Q) What exactly can I put into my single-stream cart?
A) Newspapers/ Brown Paper Bags
Magazines, Catalogs
Telephone/Soft Cover Books
Junk Mail/Envelopes (all types)
Paper
Paperboard (cereal/tissue boxes)
Cardboard
Narrow-Neck Plastic Bottles (examples: Milk Jugs, Bleach/Detergent, Shampoo Bottles)
Plastic Grocery Bags
Glass Bottles/Jars (any color)
Metal Cans (tin/steel/aluminum)
If you have a question about whether a product can be included, please call the Citizens’ Response Line at 1-800-404-7080.
Q) Should I put recyclables into bags then into my single-stream cart?
A) There is no need to place recyclables into bags before putting them into the cart. If you have an overflow of recycling, please do not place extra bags outside of your cart. If you think you need an extra cart, you can request one by calling our Citizens’ Response Line at 1-800-404-7080.

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DSWA invites you to explore yet another way to recycle.
Check out New Castle's Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and Dover's Habitat for Humanity Restore.

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