How it works
The customer uses two bins or carts, or a split container. One holds paper and cardboard. The other holds bottles, cans, and plastic containers. Trucks either have two compartments, or the two streams are collected on different days or by different trucks.
Because paper is kept away from glass and wet containers, the fiber stays cleaner and is worth more to mills. Sorting at the facility is simpler, which can mean lower processing cost per ton and lower contamination.
The downsides are customer effort and hauler cost. Two containers take space, and customers sometimes put things in the wrong one. Collection can require split-body trucks or more truck time, which raises route cost. Many programs have moved away from dual-stream toward single-stream for those reasons, though some communities and processors stick with it for quality.
Why it matters for your business
If your service area includes dual-stream programs, route planning and customer communication both get more complicated. A split-body truck has two hoppers to fill, so a route may be limited by whichever side fills first.
Customer education is a bigger part of the job. People need to know which bin takes what. Simple graphics on your website and a mailer or email at signup help a lot. Color-coded cart lids, a short video, or a printable sheet work well and cost little.
If a city is deciding between systems, your sales team should know the tradeoffs on collection cost, participation, and material quality, and be ready to explain your approach in proposals.
Common questions
Does dual-stream produce better material?
Often cleaner fiber, yes. Actual results depend on how well customers sort.
Can a hauler offer both?
Some do, depending on contracts and the processor’s equipment. Check with your MRF.