WM plans to spend about $3 billion on 39 recycling facilities and 20 renewable natural gas projects by 2026. | Photo Courtesy of WM
MRFs in Maryland, Texas, Minnesota and Canada re-opened after upgrades that included optical sorters, artificial intelligence and film vacuums.
Two of those MRFs are owned by WM, in Baltimore and in New Braunfels, Texas. The upgrades include AI and automation and gave the Maryland facility the distinction of having WM’s highest hourly processing capacity, according to a press release.
“Technology and innovation underpin our sustainability strategy, and we are adding optical sorters, intelligent sorting equipment and more at our recycling sites to help capture more material, including in areas that lack recycling access today,” said Tara Hemmer, chief sustainability officer at WM.
The $323 million in this round of upgrades are part of WM’s larger plan to invest about $3 billion from 2022 through 2026 in 39 recycling facilities and 20 renewable natural gas projects. The price tag includes the two MRFs as well as two RNG projects.
So far, WM has finished 27 out of 39 planned recycling facility upgrades and builds, and once all of them are completed, it will add 2.8 million incremental tons of annual recycling capacity. The Elkridge MRF in Maryland has an annual processing capacity of more than 250,000 tons after the upgrades, while the Texas Mesquite Creek MRF now has an annual processing capacity of 144,000 tons, WM added in an email.
In Minnesota, nonprofit Eureka Recycling is hosting a grand celebration for its renovated MRF, and is also marking its 20th anniversary, on April 19.
The upgrades included a new cardboard screen and belt, advanced optical sorters on the fiber and container lines and vacuum technology to remove film contamination.
In Edmonton, Canada, GFL’s MRF upgrade included optical sorters for material separation, a high-production Bollegraaf baler and an automated bag breaker, to handle Edmonton’s blue bag program, which allows residents to bag recyclables. The facility also added a Fire Rover fire suppression system.