Van Dyk Recycling Solutions was selected by Mecklenburg County, N.C. to rebuild a publicly owned MRF that sorts and sells recyclables from Charlotte and surrounding communities. | CLS Digital Arts/Shutterstock
On either side of the country, major recycling players are investing big money into significant improvements to their facilities.
After winning a contract previously held by Republic Systems, Balcones Resources will operate Phoenix’s North Gateway MRF (pictured above and below), as well as the city’s 27th Avenue MRF, which will be rebuilt with Machinex equipment. | Courtesy of city of Phoenix
Balcones Resources’ recently signed MRF operations contract with the city of Phoenix is exactly the type of “huge step” toward growth envisioned when Closed Loop Partners bought a majority stake in the company, a Balcones executive explained.
The latest drop-off center from the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative uses AI to rapidly count and identify bottles and other containers. | Marissa Heffernan/Resource Recycling, Inc.
The busiest container redemption center in Oregon recently got an upgrade, delivering the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative’s neural network technology to a consumer-facing location for the first time.
In a session moderated by Dan Leif (left), speakers Brion Oaks (middle) and Ken Snipes (right) spoke about how the city of Austin has taken specific steps to combat historical racial disparities. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling, Inc.
Most Americans see racism as a collection of individual actions, but it’s really an institutional problem that needs to be addressed at every level, speakers on a recent equity panel advised.
The “Resiliency at the Local Level” session at the 2022 Resource Recycling Conference featured (l to r): Eduardo Rodriguez, Alexis Yaple, Kanika Greenlee and Zach Woodruff. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling, Inc.
Resilience in recycling requires a number of elements: upgrading technology, extending contracts or even buying carts for residents.
Repowered, formerly known as Tech Dump, has secured an electronics recycling and repair contract with Ramsey County, Minn., which includes the city of St. Paul. | Courtesy of Repowered
A Twin Cities-area nonprofit won an electronics recycling and repair contract with the second largest county in Minnesota, a deal that comes as the company undergoes a rebrand.
For the second year in a row, Recycle BC observed “significant growth” in collected metric tons, with a 17% increase over the past two years. | Lightspring/Shutterstock
British Columbia’s paper and plastic packaging collection rates have rebounded after pandemic-related challenges, reaching a record-high recovery rate of just over 94%.
A pilot project will bring carton recycling to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. | Ho Su A Bi/Shutterstock
Circular Action, Tetra Pak and Packaging Recycling Organisation Vietnam teamed up to create a carton recycling initiative in Vietnam they hope will increase recycling rates and provide income to freelance waste pickers.
