Minnesota Plastic Recycling Cost Estimate

Minneapolis, Minnesota Plastic Recycling Cost Estimate 

The Council for Solid Waste Solutions (CSWS) conducted a collection analysis for the Minneapolis, MN area in 1990. The impact of plastics collection on five existing curbside collection recycling programs was evaluated in terms of additional collection time, vehicle capacity and additional cost. The collection routes were as follows  

Minnetonka - Clear HOPE, colored HOPE, PET soda bottles 

Hennepin Recycling Group - Clear HOPE and PET soda bottles 

Four different collection vehicles were used  

The following biweekly plastic set-out rates for Minneapolis measured by the recycling contractors were reported Minneapolis A - 26.1%, Minneapolis B - 62.3%, Minneapolis C - 62.1%. Weekly plastic setout rates for Minnetonka and HRG were 21.5% and 29.5%, respectively. The Minneapolis B and Minneapolis C plastic setout rates were most likely so significantly higher than the setout rates of the other routes because they collected any type plastic bottle and any rigid plastic container, respectively. 

The Minnetonka and HRG programs, which have weekly setout rates of 16 IbsVsetout and 21 IbsVsetout. respectively, had curbside collection costs less than the associated waste diversion credit of 94.00/ton regardless of whether plastics were collected. By comparison, the Minneapolis A, B and C routes had average weekly setouts of 10.75 IbsVsetout, and for this reason did not have collection costs less than the associated diversion credit. 

---