In developed countries which lack manual labour, mixed waste (single-stream recyclables) processing can be done using modern technology. The technology used includes shredding, sieving, magnetic separation, eddy current separation, etc.

A study conducted by the Earth Engineering Center at Columbia University found that Single-Stream recyclables collection increases the amount of recyclables collected as it simplifies 'separation at source' by citizens. The study also found that single-stream recycling has a clear economic advantage over multi-stream collection.

Phoenix, Los Angeles, Seattle and Palm Beach are among cities which use single stream collection of recyclables and processing technologies.