A group of Monroe County and Key West staff, along with local Florida Keys environmental advocates, recently visited Reuter Recycling in Pembroke Pines. The tour provided insights into the single-stream recycling process used for Monroe County’s recyclables.
The visit provided understanding of the county’s recycling system and the challenges involved in processing materials, including the complexity of the sorting and processing to prepare recyclable materials for the commodity market. The tour emphasized the importance of proper recycling practices and the detrimental effect of contamination on the system’s efficiency.
“I think there is still a large portion of the population that does not understand the process, specifically what can be recycled,” said Kacey Hunt, executive assistant for commissioner Michelle Lincoln. “I left that experience wishing I could take everyone to Reuter’s because it is so eye-opening and informative.”
Reuter is building a new recycling facility expected to open by 2026. It will process materials more efficiently, doubling its capacity from 35 tons to 70 tons per hour. Additionally, research is underway to expand the types of plastics that can be accepted for processing.
“Single stream has made recycling less intimidating and more convenient for households,” said Chrissy Collins, senior administrator of Monroe County Facilities Maintenance. Single stream means that all of the recycles can go in one bin and then are sorted at the facility.
