WM America Installs Single Stream Sorting Technology

WM Recycle America, LLC (WMRA) of Houston has made an investment in recycling processing equipment known as 'single-stream' in its hometown of Houston. The company said that it began installation in June on one of the most technologically advanced single-stream sorting systems in the country. This system is due to be operational by late 2010. Single-stream technology allows users to put all of their recyclables in a single bin, increasing convenience and therefore the typical amount of recycling by up to 30%. WMRA said that this large single-stream sorting system at its Houston facility has the latest technology for handling large volumes while still separating the commingled recyclables into clean end products. The system includes several screens to separate the mixed recyclables into newspaper, mixed paper, plastic containers and glass. The system also includes several optical near infrared sorters to do final clean up and sorting of mixed paper, containers, PET, tetrapack and mixed plastics automatically. The system will also include two new and unique pieces of technology: a 'paper magnet' for removing small fiber and recyclable residue from the container stream and a 'paper spike' that mechanically removes boxboard/chipboard from newspaper. It will also include magnets and eddy currents and two large balers for the finished products. "Our commercial customers have already seen the benefits of our integrated recycling and we believe our residential customers will, too," said Alan Stein, Director of Recycling, WM South Texas. "The less work the customer has to do to get these materials to the curb really helps increase participation. Everyone is busy but wants to do their part in making our planet green. We are excited to help make this a reality by investing in this type of technology." Stein added.