In 2019, Waste Management processed a record amount of recyclables: 15.5 million tons, up from 15.2 million tons in 2018. | Courtesy of Waste Management.
The largest hauler in North America processed a record amount of recyclables in 2019, and it invested more than $100 million to improve its recycling infrastructure, according to its latest sustainability report.
A 2019 retrofit at the Midwest Fiber Recycling facility involved installing a screen and optical sorter, as well as modifying the existing equipment.
MRFs are seeing more containers and office paper in the residential stream as Americans continue to stay home in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. | Evan Lorne/Shutterstock
During the third quarter, Waste Management enjoyed commodity prices that averaged 33% higher than the prior-year period. | David Tonelson/Shutterstock
The waste sector’s biggest companies extended their recycling business rebound into the second half of this year, helped by higher fiber prices.
The Coca-Cola Co., Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo back the Every Bottle Back initiative, which seeks to boost recovery of plastic bottles and aluminum cans so they can be recycled into new beverage containers. | fizkes/Shutterstock
The beverage industry will provide $800,000 to help rebuild and re-open a long-quiet MRF in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Packaging EPR programs are currently in place in parts of Europe, Canada and elsewhere, but to date, this system hasn’t reached the U.S. | Skylines/Shutterstock
Extended producer responsibility for a wide range of recyclables is gaining steam around the country. Haulers and MRF operators say it’s critical that these proposals are crafted well – both to preserve what already works and allow for much-needed changes.
A leader with AMP Robotics says artificial intelligence has changed how robotics can be incorporated into MRFs. | Courtesy of AMP Robotics.
A recycling facility operator and a robotics company say artificial intelligence is providing materials recovery firms with much-needed data to analyze changes in the recycling stream. That’s in addition to sortation improvements.
