Here are some common questions we've been asked about the new Single Stream Recycling service. If you do not find an answer to your question, please Contact Us.

Why Single Stream?
What do I have to do?
When does Single Stream start?
How do I recycle in the meantime - until then?
How is this better than my old way of recycling?
Will my recycling pickup schedule change?
What items go in the cart?
What items cannot go in the cart? Why not?
Do I need to clean items before putting them in the cart?
How big is the recycling cart?
What if I like using the small blue bin, can I continue to use it?
What if all my recycling doesn't fit in the cart?
What do the numbered triangle symbols on plastics mean?
Who do I call if my house gets missed?
Who can I contact if I have more questions about Single Stream?

Why Single Stream?
Single Stream Recycling allows City of Austin Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) customers to mix recyclable paper, plastic, aluminum cans and glass in one bin. This method of curbside recycling is more convenient for residents because it requires no sorting of items. Besides that, it has other advantages:

• Reduced collection costs because collection can be automated, and collection routes can be serviced more efficiently
• Worker injuries may decrease because single stream means switching from bins to cart-based collection (trucks with automated lifts)
• More paper grades can be collected, including food packaging (boxboard), junk mail, and mixed residential paper

When did Single Stream start?
Single Stream service will began October 6, 2008. New recycling carts will be delivered to all Pay-as-You-Throw (PAYT) customers between October-December 2008. Until customers receive their new recycling cart, they may use the bin for recycling following the Single Stream guidelines.

What do I have to do?
For the PAYT customer, no action is required except to watch for a written notice from Solid Waste Services (SWS) providing details and dates of the service change. About a week before Single Stream starts, crews will begin delivering 90-gallon recycling carts to residences. Guidelines for what items go in the cart will be printed on the cart lid for the customer’s convenience. Other information, including a collection day calendar, will also be attached to the cart when it is delivered. Customers should place their recycling cart at the curb every other week with their garbage carts on their usual pickup day. Until customers receive their new recycling cart, they can participate in Single Stream recycling using their blue bin.

How is this better than my old way of recycling?
Simply put, the Single Stream method requires no sorting of recyclables on the part of our customer – it’s a method that allows residents to put all of their household recycling in to one cart and is easier and more convenient.

How do I recycle in the meantime?
Until Single Stream Recycling starts, just continue recycling as you have been using your small blue bin, following our current Recycling Guidelines

What if I like using the small blue bin, can I continue to use it?
Customers are welcome to keep the small bin for other household uses, but once customers receive the recycling cart, Solid Waste Services will not pick-up recycling put out at the curb in the bins. We ask that if PAYT customers are going to participate in curbside recycling, that they use the new cart and adhere to the every-other-week pickup schedule. If customers want to retire their old blue bin, they may leave it (empty) at the curb on their recycling pickup day. SWS will be recycling the old bins.

Will my recycling pickup schedule change?
Yes. Instead of your recycling being collected every week on your scheduled garbage pickup day, recycling will be collected every other week on your scheduled day.

What items go in the cart?
The new service will allow you to recycle more types of items:

1. Paper:
   Newspaper
   Office paper (plain or color paper, envelopes, stationery, sticky notes)
   Junk mail (inserts, magazines, catalogs, ad circulars, etc)
   Boxboard (food box packaging like cereal boxes- flatten to conserve space)
   Corrugated cardboard (flatten to conserve space)
   
2. Aluminum:
   Food cans (labels OK)
   Soda cans
   
3. Rigid Plastics:
   Jugs and bottles with recycle symbol # 1-7 (check bottom)
   Round tubs such as yogurt and butter tubs with symbol 1 through 7
   Small plastic food packaging such as fruit cups and baby food containers
   
4. Glass:
   Bottles or jars, any color glass (rinsed and dry)
   

What items cannot go in the cart? Why not?
We cannot take plastic bags, meat trays, or Styrofoam in any form- in any form (take out containers, egg cartons, packaging) or broken glass. Why not? The recycling processing facility uses an automated system to sort and bale the recyclables. Plastic bags, for instance, will jam the automated machinery. Residents can take their plastic bags to some grocery stores, and place in their containers for recycling. You are encouraged to ask for paper bags during shopping or opt for the cloth/mesh reusable bags. We cannot take plastic disposable meat trays, pizza boxes, or Styrofoam (in any form- takeout containers, egg cartons, packing materials) because of contamination.

Do I need to clean items before putting them in the cart?
Your recyclables should be rinsed of food residue. All paper put into the cart must be dry.

How big is the recycling cart?
Your new cart will be the 90-gallon size cart.

What if all my recycling doesn't fit in the cart?
For those instances where customers generate extra recycling they can place their recyclables in a reusable container or cardboard box and place next to their recycling cart. One tip is to crush recyclables like cans, plastic jugs and bottles. Be sure to “break down” or flatten boxboard and corrugated cardboard so that it fits more easily into the cart.

What do the numbered triangle symbols on plastics mean?
(For even more detail than this, see: http://www.americanplasticscouncil.org/benefits/about_plastics/resin_codes/resin.html)

#1 - Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE) or (PET): soft drink and water bottles, beer bottles, mouthwash bottles, peanut butter and salad dressing containers. It can be recycled into polar fleece clothing, fiber, tote bags, bottles, clothing, furniture, and carpet.

#2 - High Density Polyethylene (HDPE): milk jugs, water and juice containers, liquid detergent bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs. It can be recycled into liquid laundry detergent containers, drainage pipe, oil bottles, recycling bins, benches, pens, doghouses, vitamin bottles, floor tile, picnic tables, lumber, mailbox posts, fencing.

#3 - Vinyl (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC): clear food packaging, shampoo bottles.

#4 - Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE): squeezable bottles (e.g. honey, mustard).

#5 - Polypropylene (PP): ketchup bottles, yogurt containers and margarine tubs, medicine bottles.

#6 - Polystyrene (PS): aspirin bottles, cups, plates.

#7 - Other: Use of this code indicates that the package in question is made with a resin other than the six listed above, or is made of more than one resin used in combination. Plastics such as three and five gallon reusable water bottles, some citrus juice and ketchup bottles, clear baby food containers.

Who do I call if my house gets missed?
You should call Solid Waste Services at 974-1945 with questions regarding your service.

Who can I contact if I have more questions about Single Stream?
If you did not find an answer to your question here, please call 974-1945 for assistance.