How Single-Stream Recycling Works

Recyclable materials - glass, plastics, paper, and metal - are dropped off at Midwest Fiber Recycling Single-Stream Recycling facility in Normal. 

The sorting process:

1. The materials are placed on a conveyor belt where the separation of materials begins.
2. Cardboard, newspaper, and office paper are screened/sorted, leaving only containers.
3. Glass, tin and aluminum are separated.
4. Magnets go over the conveyor belt to pull tin and steel cans. 
5. A reverse magnet, known as an Eddy current, causes aluminum cans to fly off the conveyor belt and into a bin for bundling.
6. Sorting staff then review the conveyor belt materials for items that may have made it through the process but are not recyclable.
7. Once the materials are separated, they are packed into bales that will be sold to other companies that use these materials to make their products.

For more information on single-stream recycling or to speak to a Midwest Fiber representative, please call 800.779.6977.