Robotic machinery recently installed by AMP Robotics at the Kent County Recycling and Education Center. | Courtesy of AMP Robotics

Sorting robots have been installed at Northeast and Midwest MRFs, and Balcones Resources appears set to operate a new MRF far away from its current service areas. 

Northeast hauler open revamped MRF

Casella Waste Systems announced the opening of its recently renovated MRF serving Boston. 

The northeast U.S. garbage and recycling company invested $20 million in the facility, which is located in Charlestown, Mass. and is one of the largest MRFs in the country, according to a press release. The upgrade project, provided by Machinex, included the installation of SamurAI sorting robots, which are produced through a partnership between Machinex and AMP Robotics. 

“With these upgrades we continue to become more efficient, produce cleaner material, and help to move forward the concept of a circular economy,” John W. Casella, the company’s chairman and CEO, stated in the release. “While our sustainability journey is not complete, this is a significant step along that path.”

A June 9 ribbon-cutting event drew nearly 100 guests, including state lawmakers and city officials.

Robots installed in Michigan

A county in Michigan installed three sorting robots from AMP Robotics. 

The Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW) on June 9 installed the three robots at the county’s Recycling and Education Center, according to an AMP press release.

“By implementing these new technologies, the DPW continues to be on track to achieve our goal of reducing landfill waste,” said Dar Baas, director of Kent County DPW. “At the DPW, we are continuously innovating and implementing practices that increase our efficiency, improve safety, reduce landfill waste, and provide an overall better environment for Kent County residents.”

Learn more in person

Want more top insight on key trends in the MRF and material processing realm? Make plans to join us at the 2023 Resource Recycling Conference (August 14-16 in Orlando, Fla.). We’ll have panels looking at the future of artificial intelligence and sortation, evolving strategies in MRF-city contracting, impacts of policy on processing and much more! Check out the full session lineup and register today.

In addition, Kent County also recently installed an eddy current separator. The release noted that, with the sorting capabilities of the equipment and the current labor market, the robots and eddy current are important to helping the county reach its goal of reducing landfill waste by 90% by 2030.

Grant funding from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) helped pay for recycling upgrades in Kent County. Two infrastructure grants totaling $906,000 helped buy a baler, a loader and the robots, as well as fund the expansion of a drop-off recycling center.

Balcones jumps to a new geography

Balcones Resources, a recycling company that operates across the southern U.S., is set to operate a MRF planned for Toledo, Ohio. 

Lucas County, Ohio commissioners approved a resolution giving county staff permission to negotiate a contract with Closed Loop Partners to design and build the new MRF. The facility will be located on 15 acres just south of downtown. A press release from Lucas County noted that the county received a $7 million grant from the state to conduct an environmental cleanup of a portion of the property. 

Balcones operates MRFs in Texas, Arkansas and Florida and is owned by Circular Services, which is a portfolio company of Closed Loop Partners.  

WasteDive reported the city currently trucks its recyclables 90 miles to a Republic Services MRF. 

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Ousei Kankyoshoji