1. Building Rural Recycling Efficiency in North Carolina
Scott Mouw
NC Division of Environmental Assistance and Outreach

2. North Carolina Development and Encouragement of Hub and Spoke
Reasons for interest:
Improve access to single stream MRFs
Improve efficiency of rural recycling
Technical Assistance
On-site, direct, proactive assistance from DEAO
Convenience Center Workshops
Grants
Larger awards ($100,000) in General Community Recycling Grant Cycle
Special awards depending on opportunities

3. MRF Development in North Carolina
New MRF since 2008
Other MRFs
Pending Facility
MRF revamped/modernized since 2008

4. MRF Efficiency: Throughput Matters
Image credit: Resource Recycling Systems

5. Hubs & Spokes: Transfer of Single Stream
= accessible single stream MRF
= transferring county
= good candidates for transfer

6. Transferring Recyclables

7. Parallel Focus on Rural Convenience Centers
Over 600 convenience centers statewide.
Vast majority still have source separation of materials and multiple rolloffs/bins.
Opportunities to single or dual stream materials:
Reduce operational expense
Reduce long term capital expenses
Improve recycling experience for citizens
Active support from the State

8. The Collection Mix: Then and Now
1992:
Newspaper
Glass bottles and jars
Aluminum cans
Soda bottles
Milk jugs
Steel cans
2012
All of the 1992 list, plus:
Magazines and office paper
Mixed paper
OCC
All #1 and #2 plastic bottles
Other plastic containers
Aerosol cans
Gable tops & aseptics
Bulky rigid plastics (sometimes)

9. Example of NC Rural Collection Center
Cardboard
Glass
Aluminum & Steel Can Bin
Plastics
Swap Shop & Oil Shed
Mixed Paper
Trash Compactor
Office
Newspaper
Cooking Oil & Electronics
Scrap Metal
Bulky Trash
Trash
Pre-Crusher

10. Commingling Materials at Convenience Centers

11. Single Stream Using Compaction
Image credit: Resource Recycling Systems

12. Single Stream Using Compaction
Image credit: Resource Recycling Systems

13. Simplifying Convenience Centers
Image credit: Resource Recycling Systems

14. Internal Hub and Spoke: Moore County
= Single stream convenience collection
= Single stream transfer station
Two busiest and most remote sites now using compactors.
Transfer out to Pratt MRF in
Fayetteville.

15. Direct Convenience Center vs. Transfer Station Haul – eastern Triangle
= Single Stream MRF
Franklin
= convenience center with compacted rolloff
Nash
= Single Stream Transfer Station
Wake
Wilson
Johnston

16. Conclusion Hub and Spoke developing in NC, with state encouragement.
Will allow rural access to single stream processing capacity
Will support utilization in rural, small town curbside programs
Will help optimize MRF operation
Modernization of convenience centers systems will improve efficiency and mesh with Hub and Spoke.

17. Thank You!
Scott Mouw
NC DEAO