Single-stream recycling—mixing paper, plastic, glass and other recyclables in one bin—will be new for Janesville residents in October, but Rock Disposal has been sorting mixed recyclables for years.
The containers will be a different color, but the new single-stream recycling system that Janesville will begin using in October will use the same pickup method as shown here. Residents will begin getting the new wheeled carts in September.
Photo By: Mark Kauzlarich
Rock Disposal built a $1.5 million facility on Townline Road between Janesville and Beloit to sort single-stream recylables.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
A loader places recycled materials on a conveyor belt at Rock Disposal, Janesville.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
Employee Walter Melton pulls out trash and other non-recyclable items as material moves on for further separation.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
Large sheets of cardboard fall onto raised fingers that 'walk' the cardboard away from smaller items that fall to another conveyer.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
An inclined shaker table with holes allows glass shards and grit to fall away while paper is blown by fans off the opposite end. Heavier items such as cans, plastic and some paper fall onto a lower conveyer for additional processing.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
The stream of material has been greatly reduced, and workers hand-sort plastics and more paper, leaving metal to move ahead.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
A strong magnet lifts items containing iron from the conveyor belt.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
The conveyor dumps material that has passed through the separation system into a large pile. The pile is run through the system again to siphon off as much recyclable material as possible.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
At the end of the process, few recyclables are sent to the landfill.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
Compacted aluminum cans wait to be shipped from the facility.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
Compacted plastics wait behind Rock Disposal to be shipped.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
Bales of cardboard are ready to be shipped for processing.
Join us on Facebook
