Help & Support

Frequently Asked Questions:

Click for HHW Schedule

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.

top^