Recycling contract language series vol 4

The following contains the exact language (italicized) currently found in a standard commercial Waste Management contract. This language is specifically related to recycling services and highlights common recycling contract language. In addition to excerpts from the contractual agreement, we will follow up with a plain-language interpretation. Note: the North American recycling industry has seen its ups and downs lately. Therefore, some of this information may be subject to change. Understanding recycling contract language is crucial for clarity.

(i) Single stream Recyclable Materials (“Single Stream”) will consist of Customer’s entire volume of uncoated office and writing paper, magazines, pamphlets, and mail, newspaper. Flattened, uncoated cardboard, paperboard boxes; aluminum food and beverage containers, tin or steel cans; glass, and rigid container plastics #1, #2 and #5, including narrow neck containers and tubs. [Plain English: Single-stream usually means that ALL of the customer’s recycling can be mixed together into one bin. The contents of this bin are shipped to a Material Recycling Facility (MRF). There, the components are separated. They are then bulked up for shipment to a recycler that specializes in the specific commodity. For example, plastics go to plastics recycling. Paper goes to a pulping mill. Clear recycling contract language should define this process accurately.]