Recycling Process
Collection
Recyclables are collected curbside by the City’s contractor, ABC Sanitary Hauling. The residential program serves all single-family through four-plex housing units - about 8,500.
A “single-stream” collection method is used, where acceptable papers and containers can be mixed together.
Ready for Sorting
After collection, recyclables are brought to ABC’s facility in Champaign, and emptied onto the floor for sorting. Large pieces of cardboard are the first materials sorted and segregated for baling. Then a small end loader scoops up the remaining recyclables and places them onto a sorting line where workers hand sort materials by type - Aluminum, Steel, Glass, Plastic Resin Types and Paper (Mixed Paper, Newspaper, Books, Paperboard).
Loaded on Conveyer
After recyclables are sorted by material type, they are loaded onto a conveyer that loads recyclables into the baling chamber.
Bales & More Bales
Commingled recyclables that entered the building have been sorted, baled and are ready to be shipped to markets as commodities for manufacturing new products.
Where do the Recyclables Go?
For example, Quincy Recycle markets and ships #1 PET plastics to Mohawk Industries in Summerville, GA to be made into carpet. Paper is shipped to Bowater, Inc. in Greenville, SC to make new paper products. And #2 - 7 plastics are shipped to Haviland Drainage Products in Haviland, OH to be made into drainage tile.
Please visit these websites for more information: www.mohawk-flooring.com (Click on “Green Carpeting”), www.bowater.com www.haviland-drainage.com
ABC Sanitary and Recycling does not sell recyclable commodities directly to mills or end users. Instead they market commodities to brokers and/or other processors both locally and regionally as listed below (Markets are subject to change).
Aluminum & Steel (Tin)
Mack’s Twin City Recycling, Urbana IL
www.macksrecycling.com
Glass
Strategic Materials, Chicago IL
http://strategicmaterials.com/
Newspaper, Cardboard & Plastics
Quincy Recycle, Quincy IL
www.quincyrecycle.com
Books
Community Resource, Urbana IL
Plastics (#1 PET)
Mohawk Industries, Summerville,GA
Plastics (#2 - 7)
Haviland Drainage Products, Haviland, OH