MANCHESTER, NH: Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a MRF?
• Will Manchester’s trash go to the MRF?
• How do my recyclables get to the MRF?
• What happens to the recyclable material once it leaves the MRF?
• How does the MRF benefit Manchester?
• What is Single Stream Recycling?
• What are the advantages to single stream?
• How does single stream compare to our existing system?
• Why haven’t we been on Single Stream all along?
• How will it work?
• When will my recyclables be collected?
• What goes in the recycling cart?
• What cannot be recycled?
• Is the recycling material that is collected, really being recycled?

What is a MRF?
A Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is a recycling sorting center. It deals strictly with recyclable material only: cardboard, mixed paper, 1-7 plastics, aluminum, and glass.  A MRF is not a dump nor does it look like one. A MRF is actually designed to prevent disposing or burning of reusable materials. A MRF is a fairly large building. It is filled with complex conveyor systems that collect, direct, sort and bale different types of recyclable materials. 

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Will Manchester’s trash go to the MRF?
No. Your solid waste will continue to go to the landfill.  No trash will go to this facility.
The Manchester MRF is a “dry” MRF. It sorts recyclable material only. Recycled material is a clean commodity that has monetary value and is traded in the global marketplace.

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How do my recyclables get to the MRF?
Your local haulers will continue to pick up your recyclables. Rather than being transported to Massachusetts, the recyclables will be delivered to the MRF in Manchester.

The trucks that will be dropping off recycled materials at the MRF will be curbside packing trucks, similar in size and weight to the trucks currently picking up your curbside recyclables. The trucks that travel to the MRF will do so during non-peak hours - recycling trucks are on the road early and typically their day is done before 3 PM, thus avoiding high traffic times.

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What happens to the recyclable material once it leaves the MRF?
The MRF system neatly packs the material into blocks or bales of paper, plastic, metal and glass. Once baled, the materials are shipped to domestic and foreign markets that are able to reuse the material to make new plastic bottles, paper and glass containers, etc. There is a huge demand for recycled material worldwide. The collection of recycled materials has become a major, burgeoning industry that Manchester only stands to gain from financially.

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How does the MRF benefit Manchester?
Quite simply, the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) will save Manchester money.

• Manchester will realize a savings of 1.3 million dollars a year simply by diverting recycled materials from the solid waste stream. Imagine if that money was freed up to pay for priorities like schools, additional police officers and road improvements.
  
  
• In addition, Manchester will benefit from three revenue streams generated from this facility; property taxes from the land the facility is located on; the city will be paid a host fee for materials delivered from other communities and the city will receive a percentage of the revenue generated by the MRF. Manchester has the potential to pay for its solid waste program with the revenues generated from this facility.
  
  
• The Materials Recovery Facility will create new jobs. Facility operators, office employees, vehicle maintenance and truck operators will be hired.

When the Materials Recovery Facility is complete, it will enable Manchester to implement single stream recycling.

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What is Single Stream Recycling?
“Single stream” is an industry term that refers to the process whereby all recyclables are collected together.  For example, in a “dual stream” system, paper products are separated from plastic, metal, and glass. Recyclables from a single stream collection program are collected together and brought to a MRF for sorting.

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What are the advantages to single stream?
There are several advantages to a single stream recycling program:

• Single Stream recycling simplifies recycling. It allows you to mix recyclable paper, plastic and glass in one bin. Instead of separating your bottles, cans, jars and paper, you can now place all these items in one container for curbside pick-up.
  
  
• With single stream recycling you’ll be able to recycle a greater variety of plastics. Right now Manchester only collects plastic bottles # 1-2. With single stream that will expand to include # 1- 7. Plastic bottles and jars with 1 - 7 on the bottom, instead of just 1 - 2 will now be collected. Single stream ensures that your efforts at home aren’t wasted.
  
  
• Residential single-stream programs have greatly increased the recycling rates, recovering as much as three times the amount of recyclable materials. Reduced sorting effort by residents means more recyclables are placed at the curb and more residents may participate in recycling.
  
  
• Single stream saves taxpayer dollars.  Single stream helps avoid costly “tipping fees” (the price the community pays to dump trash somewhere) and this, in turn, reduces the community’s trash expenses. Single stream recycling also requires less collection equipment, labor, and time therefore saving Manchester even more!

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 How does single stream compare to our existing system?
Single stream is just better: It’s a simpler process that enables more people to participate. And it saves you time! You no longer need to sort your recyclables into separate bins. Manchester will do away with the 14-gallon green bins currently used and will replace them with new 65-gallon carts that have wheels and lids enabling ease of use and flexibility in terms of where it can be stored. It can be left outdoors if you prefer.

Just put the container out by the curb on your regular trash day – and we’ll do the rest. Your recyclables will continue to be picked up on a weekly basis.

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Why haven’t we been on Single Stream all along?
Recycling is a dynamic system that is continually evolving to embrace new innovations and address new challenges. Single stream recycling is a relatively new approach to recycling requiring advanced technologies and equipment. While single stream is slowly becoming the industry standard, the complicated conveyor systems and machinery that sorts and isolates the paper, plastics, metals and glass from the recycling stream, are very costly.

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How will it work?
Just place all of your recyclables into the single 65 gallon container that the City will provide: paper, cardboard, boxboard, aluminum cans, metal cans, plastic and glass will all go in the same container. Small green bins will no longer be used at curbside for collection. You will receive complete Single Stream Recycling instructions and a calendar showing your collection schedule with your new recycling cart.

With a recycling container that is much larger than that old curbside bin, you can recycle more and waste less! With single-stream recycling, all of your recycling goes in one cart. 

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When will my recyclables be collected?
Crews will collect recycling with automated collection trucks. Recycling collection will occur every week on the same day as your trash pick-up.

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What goes in the recycling cart?
Paper: newspaper, office paper, junk mail, cereal boxes, corrugated cardboard.
Aluminum and metal cans: food cans (labels left on OK), soda cans.
Glass: Jars and bottles
Rigid plastics: # 1 through # 7, including yogurt and margarine tubs

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What cannot be recycled?
Plastic bags, Styrofoam (cups, egg cartons, take-out containers).

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Is the recycling material that is collected, really being recycled?
Yes! Once the material is collected from your home, it’s taken to our recycling facility. There it is sorted, baled into blocks or bales of paper, plastic, metal and glass. Once baled, the materials are shipped to domestic and foreign markets that are able to reuse the material to make new plastic bottles, paper and glass containers, etc.

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Tours are available. If you are interested in scheduling a tour at Corcoran’s Single Stream Recycling facility, please contact us at tours@ces-online.com.

Groups of 10 are preferred, and all tourists must be prepared to put on goggles, safety vest, hats and ear phones.

Have a question we didn’t answer?  Ask it below!