Montezuma County is exploring the possibility of expanding recycling opportunities for county residents.

In its plan to become a recycling hub for the Four Corners, the county met with local garbage haulers Waste Management, Baker Sanitation and the city of Cortez to gain input.

Details are incomplete, but the conclusion was to conduct an audit to determine if single-stream recycling could work.

In a single-stream system, recyclables such as aluminum, tin, and corrugated cardboard are mixed into one bin. Glass is stored separately.

The convenience of single-stream could attract more users, because participants wouldn't be required to separate their recyclables.

"With single-stream, you could increase participation by 30-35 percent," said David Johnson, district manager for Waste Management. "Some recycle to recycle, others will only do it if it's convenient."

The county emphasized that current recycling systems, including those by Cortez and Four Corners Recycling Initiative, wouldn't be affected.

"They would stay the same, but we're interested in doing more," said county commissioner Larry Don Suckla.

The county plans to switch from a bale system to a loose-fill compaction system. The change would free up the baler for recycling, including a single-stream system.

The Montezuma County landfill is in a position to become a regional recycling center because of its proximity to multiple states and enough space for a 240-year lifespan.

The landfill already accepts paper and corrugated cardboard from haulers. They charge to bale, load, and store paper and cardboard then sell it to mills in Oklahoma and California.

Proceeds from the sales go to the recycling organization. Baker Sanitation and Waste Management donate their paper and cardboard to Four Corners Recycling.

"The check for the commodity either goes to Cortez or Four Corners Recycling," said Shak Powers, landfill manager.

Collected metals are delivered by the haulers to Belt Salvage. Proceeds go to the recycling organizations.

Volume and time would be key to making a single-stream recycling system work. That's because single-stream isn't as profitable. For example, separated corrugated cardboard goes for $90 per ton while baled single-stream goes for $2 per ton.

"There is a big public education component to single-stream to avoid contamination," Powers said.

Single-stream systems rely on a Materials Reclamation Facility (MERF) to buy and separate the bales for sale. The MERF determines what can go into single-stream, and residents must comply or the load is dumped into a landfill.

For example, residents and businesses may be required to remove labels, wash out items, or only recycle certain types of plastics.

Local waste haulers said they're interested in discussing single-stream service.

Four Corners Recycling and Baker Sanitation have source-separated bins around the county. Cortez has a source-separation recycling program with curb-side pickup. Recycling manager Colby Earley said the program is popular, but doesn't pay for itself.

"The commodity market for recyclables is a little unpredictable," he said. "The money we do make isn't enough to pay for the program so there is a subsidy."