CRP Collection Systems & Logistics 2

Question 1

What does 'capture rate' measure in a curbside recycling program?

Accepted Answer

The percentage of recyclable materials generated that are actually collected through the recycling program

Answer

The weight of recyclables collected per route per day

Answer

The fraction of households that set out bins

Answer

The portion of collected material that passes quality inspection

Question 2

Which factor most significantly increases the cost of collecting recyclables from rural areas compared to urban areas?

Accepted Answer

Lower household density requiring more route miles per ton collected

Answer

Higher contamination rates requiring additional sorting labor

Answer

Greater distance from end-markets for commodities

Answer

Increased need for community outreach in rural communities

Question 3

A recycling coordinator is evaluating whether to switch from bi-weekly to weekly curbside collection. Which metric is most important to analyze before making the decision?

Accepted Answer

Change in set-out rate and pounds per household captured under each scenario

Answer

Number of resident complaints about collection frequency

Answer

Driver overtime costs under the current schedule

Answer

Processing capacity available at the MRF

Question 4

What is the purpose of a 'recycling route audit' or 'waste sort' conducted on collected curbside recyclables?

Accepted Answer

To measure contamination rates and identify which materials residents are putting in recycling bins incorrectly

Answer

To calculate driver productivity and truck load efficiency

Answer

To verify commodity weights match bale tickets from the MRF

Answer

To ensure compliance with vehicle maintenance schedules

Question 5

Which collection model transfers the most financial and operational responsibility for recycling logistics to producers of packaging?

Accepted Answer

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) with producer-run collection networks

Answer

Municipal franchise contract with a private hauler

Answer

Government-operated curbside cart program

Answer

Deposit-return system managed by a clearinghouse

Question 6

What is 'contamination sorting labor' and why does it matter in collection system cost modeling?

Accepted Answer

Manual labor at a MRF required to remove non-recyclable items from the collected stream, which increases processing costs

Answer

Labor cost to sort out recyclables from refuse trucks that collected mixed loads

Answer

Educational staffing needed to reduce household contamination

Answer

Inspection costs paid by haulers when loads are rejected at the MRF