WASTE STREAM

It is no secret that humans produce a lot of garbage, often referred to as municipal solid waste (MSW). The UN
Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that around 11.2 billion tons of MSW is collected worldwide every
year.1 In 2018, the EPA found total MSW generation was 292.4 million tons (4.9 pounds per person per day).2

The waste stream refers to the life cycle of waste—from the placing of garbage in the bin for transport to a
recycling center or landfill to the potential reuse of materials.3 Understanding the waste stream associated with
your packaging systems can help identify areas for improvement and innovation. Let’s dive into a typical
packaging waste stream.

THE WASTE STREAM STARTS WITH YOU!

Once you finish using a package, read the label to see if it should be placed in the trash can or a recycling
bin. This kicks off the process of the waste stream.

Non-Recycling Waste Streams

If you place a package in a trash can, it will enter one of two streams—
either a landfill or a Waste-to-Energy facility. Let’s explore both.

Landfills Waste-to-Energy Facilities

Landfills collect MSW and compress it to maximize
available space. The use of landfills is seen as a
“long-term” method of waste disposal, as waste is layered
and covered with soil to aid in anaerobic (no oxygen)
digestion. A number of facilities in the US and abroad have
developed methods to capture the gas (usually methane)
produced by the decomposing waste and use it to create
electricity for a variety of functions.3
Another end-point for MSW tossed in the garbage bin is a
Waste-to-Energy facility. As the name suggests, waste is
transported to a facility and converted to usable energy
through controlled combustion using high temperatures.4
This converted energy can be used for lighting and heating
buildings, and more. In order to avoid harmful emissions
from the combustion process, many facilities have air
quality control systems. Most do not classify this energy
as “clean” due to an array of negative externalities
associated with the process.4

Recycling Waste Streams

If you place a package in a recycling bin, it is collected by trucks and taken to a
recycling facility controlled by either local or state governments. There are 2 common
recycling streams—“single-stream” and “dual-stream.”

Single-Stream
In “single-stream,” all recyclables (from paper to glass, etc.)
are collected in a single bin, making it easier for the
consumer as they are not responsible for separating the
materials. However, this can cause contamination issues.
When materials arrive at the MRF, the waste is sorted by
material for further processing.5
Dual-Stream
On the other hand, “dual-stream” recycling, the process
for sorting recyclables by material, is put on citizens
themselves, with different bins for different materials.
Typically, there are two separate bins, one for food and
beverage containers and the other for newspaper and
other paper.5
Let’s explore how four different packaging materials—plastic, glass, paper,
and metal—are sorted throughout the waste stream.

PAPER
Paper is typically separated into 4 categories:
1. Corrugated boxes
2. Old newsprint
3. Mixed paper
4. Office mix
Once the materials are separated, they are then baled
(compacted in a rectangular shape) and sold to different
markets—typically paper mills.
Newspaper material is de-inked (the removal of ink using
chemicals) and washed, which helps separate short fibers
from long fibers.3
Typically, paper mills combine long fibers (recycled paper)
with wood scraps to create a pulp-like material. This pulp
material is then poured onto a platform and fed through heat
rollers to make a sheet that is rolled and sent for use in the
printing industry.3
PLASTIC
Plastic containers are sorted by both type and color. The 7
common types of plastic (resin) include:
1 – PET (polyethylene terephthalate)
2 – HDPE (high-density polyethylene)
3 – PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
4 – LDPE (low-density polyethylene)
5 – PP (polypropylene)
6 – PS (polystyrene)
7 – Other
Plastic recycling facilities utilize blasts of air to separate
heavier containers from lighter containers. Other sorting
methods include the use of cameras and scanners.3
Once sorted and baled, plastics are sent to remanufacturing
plants to be transformed into pellets. In order to be
transformed into pellets, the plastics are ground, washed,
and melted. Recycled plastics pellets are used to
manufacture a number of products including bottles and
containers, furniture, toys and consumer goods, and more!3

GLASS
The process of recycling glass includes crushing the material
to create cullet (broken glass to be processed for
remanufacturing), which is then sorted by color (sometimes
occurring before the crushing process).
Sorting glass by color is essential, as one piece of amber
glass can ruin an entire batch of flint (clear) glass.
Once the cullet is sorted, it is sent to a variety of markets for
use in new containers, road bedding, container tops, and
more.3 To make new glass containers, the cullet is sent to a
glass plant and mixed with sand, soda ash, feldspar, and
limestone. This mixture is heated in a furnace at temperatures
over 2500 degrees fahrenheit. The need for raw materials is
reduced through use of the cullet.
METAL
Metals, including steel and aluminum, are sent to recycling
centers and separated by the use of magnets. The magnets are
able to separate the steel, which is collected and baled.
Aluminum remains on the conveyor line and is separated
through the use of an eddy current (a magnetic field created
around aluminum). The sorted aluminum is then sent to an
aluminum mill where it is melted and poured into molds for
ingots, which are used to make future products like
beverage cans.3
Baled steel is sent to a steel mill to be run through chemical
and electrolysis baths for purification and then melted and
poured into molds for ingots (similar to aluminum) or made
into sheets.

THE PURPOSE OF RECYCLING PACKAGING MATERIALS

Packaging is everywhere and touches virtually every industry. It is, therefore, essential for packaging
systems to be recyclable or reusable where possible to reduce the environmental impact of the industry
at large.

Recycling can limit the use of raw material extraction, reduce stress on landfills, and create a new purpose
for a material that is otherwise discarded—for example, recycled plastics and metals can be used to create
new playgrounds, water bottles, and more!
RESOURCES
Let’s explore how 4 different packaging materials—plastic, glass, paper, and
1. Environment, U. (2024). Solid waste management. UNEP. https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/resource-efficien-
cy/what-we-do/cities/solid-waste-management#:~:text=Every%20year%2C%20an%20estimated%2011.2%20billion%20
metal—are sorted throughout the waste stream.
tons,solid%20waste%20are%20collected%20worldwide.
2. Environmental Protection Agency. (2018). National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Waste, and Recycling. EPA.
https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materals-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials
3. Waste Management Editors. (n.d.). Follow the Waste Stream. Waste Management. https://www.wm.com/about/communi-
ty/pdfs/Follow the Waste Stream.pdf
4. Maryland Department of the Environment. (2020). FAQ About Waste-to-Energy Facilities. Maryland.gov. https://mde.mary-
land.gov/programs/Air/Documents/www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/Air/MDE_OC_EA_FAQs.pdf
5. Container Recycling Institute. (n.d.). Single Stream Recycling. Single-Stream. https://www.container-recycling.org/index-
.php/issues/single-stream-recycling

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