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Tag Archives: MRFs

Why Glacier’s MRF robots drew millions in funding

Published: March 12, 2024
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Robotics from Glacier can be made to fit any belt width and can target more than 30 distinct materials. | Courtesy of Glacier

The co-founders of emerging sortation robotics supplier Glacier say their robots provide an immediate quality benefit with a small footprint: They can be placed anywhere a manual sorter would be stationed. Continue Reading

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MRF battery fires burn ‘really fast’ and ‘really hot’

Published: March 5, 2024
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Vinod Singh of Far West Recycling speaks during an Association of Oregon Recyclers presentation on recycling facility battery fires in February. | Dan Holtmeyer/Resource Recycling

At a Portland, Oregon-area transfer station, site superintendent Matt Tracy has noticed smaller lithium-ion batteries often behave like fireworks when they go into thermal runaway: They move erratically and can even become projectiles. Continue Reading

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Details on Oregon’s $150M trash-sorting MRF

Published: February 6, 2024
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The $150 million price tag on the new Lane County, Oregon, facility will be footed by Bulk Handling Systems and the county. | Courtesy of Bulk Handling Systems

An upcoming facility in Lane County, Oregon, will process mixed waste, commingled recyclables and organics and is projected to boost the county’s diversion rate by as much as 20 percentage points. Continue Reading

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Recology upgrades MRF serving Northern California

Published: January 29, 2024
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Recology’s newest MRF in California has seven optical sorters, an eddy current separator, drum magnet and 109 conveyor belts. | Courtesy of Recology

A $35 million materials recovery facility that opened this week in Sonoma County promises to more than double the processing capacity of the sorting center it is replacing. Continue Reading

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Group updates on UBC-sorting robot’s success

Published: December 12, 2023
Updated:

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A robot funded by the aluminum industry successfully picked an average of 1,565 UBCs per day, an analysis found. | EWY Media/Shutterstock

A recycling robot installed at a California MRF has recovered an average of 1,565 UBCs per day since it was installed this summer, according to a metal can industry group. 

The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), which helped finance the installation of the EverestLabs robot at Caglia Environmental’s MRF, is now looking to deploy another unit at another MRF. 

“CMI plans to use the learnings from this successful initiative to support additional UBC capture equipment at MRFs, further enhancing the recycling industry’s efficiency,” according to a case study that was published today (Dec. 12). “CMI and EverestLabs are now looking to expand their partnership and are exploring placing a robotic system in another MRF.”

The robot installed at Caglia’s MRF in Fresno, Calif. received financing assistance from CMI members Ardagh Metal Packaging and Crown Holdings. Those companies, which manufacture aluminum beverage cans, financed a two-year equipment lease for Caglia, which has agreed to share 50% of the revenue generated from the UBCs collected by the leased robot. 

The system was deployed on the MRF’s last chance line, where its picking priority is UBCs, followed by other containers.

More stories about metals

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MRF battery fires burn ‘really fast’ and ‘really hot’

Published: March 5, 2024
Updated:

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Vinod Singh of Far West Recycling speaks during an Association of Oregon Recyclers presentation on recycling facility battery fires in February. | Dan Holtmeyer/Resource Recycling

At a Portland, Oregon-area transfer station, site superintendent Matt Tracy has noticed smaller lithium-ion batteries often behave like fireworks when they go into thermal runaway: They move erratically and can even become projectiles. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |

Details on Oregon’s $150M trash-sorting MRF

Published: February 6, 2024
Updated:

by

The $150 million price tag on the new Lane County, Oregon, facility will be footed by Bulk Handling Systems and the county. | Courtesy of Bulk Handling Systems

An upcoming facility in Lane County, Oregon, will process mixed waste, commingled recyclables and organics and is projected to boost the county’s diversion rate by as much as 20 percentage points. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged |

Recology upgrades MRF serving Northern California

Published: January 29, 2024
Updated:

by

Recology’s newest MRF in California has seven optical sorters, an eddy current separator, drum magnet and 109 conveyor belts. | Courtesy of Recology

A $35 million materials recovery facility that opened this week in Sonoma County promises to more than double the processing capacity of the sorting center it is replacing. Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged , |

Group updates on UBC-sorting robot’s success

Published: December 12, 2023
Updated:

by

A robot funded by the aluminum industry successfully picked an average of 1,565 UBCs per day, an analysis found. | EWY Media/Shutterstock

A recycling robot installed at a California MRF has recovered an average of 1,565 UBCs per day since it was installed this summer, according to a metal can industry group. 

The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), which helped finance the installation of the EverestLabs robot at Caglia Environmental’s MRF, is now looking to deploy another unit at another MRF. 

“CMI plans to use the learnings from this successful initiative to support additional UBC capture equipment at MRFs, further enhancing the recycling industry’s efficiency,” according to a case study that was published today (Dec. 12). “CMI and EverestLabs are now looking to expand their partnership and are exploring placing a robotic system in another MRF.”

The robot installed at Caglia’s MRF in Fresno, Calif. received financing assistance from CMI members Ardagh Metal Packaging and Crown Holdings. Those companies, which manufacture aluminum beverage cans, financed a two-year equipment lease for Caglia, which has agreed to share 50% of the revenue generated from the UBCs collected by the leased robot. 

The system was deployed on the MRF’s last chance line, where its picking priority is UBCs, followed by other containers.

More stories about metals

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Oregon approves first set of EPR rules

Published: December 1, 2023
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Oregon state capitol building with state flag and blue sky.

The newly instated rules cover end markets, performance standards and several other key issues. | Grindstone-Media-Group/Shutterstock

Of the states that have passed extended producer responsibility laws for packaging, Oregon just became the first to approve a round of administrative rulemaking. 

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EPA studies costs of recycling programs, awards grants

Published: November 27, 2023
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Folders showing grants, projects and funding titles.

As the EPA issues tens of millions in grants, it is also funding research to ensure that grant money is used effectively. | Olivier Le Moal/Shutterstock

The U.S. EPA is sponsoring a study of the costs and benefits of municipal recycling programs, and at the same time the agency is directing more funding toward the sector.  Continue Reading

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Industry illness and injury rates on the rise in 2022

Published: November 13, 2023
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After reaching a low point in 2021, workplace injuries and illnesses have since climbed back up. | 3rdtimeluckystudio/Shutterstock

Workers across the waste and recycling industry saw a higher rate of injuries and illnesses last year, after record low incident rates in 2021. Continue Reading

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Haulers continue to see recycling revenue drops

Published: November 13, 2023
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GFL waste hauling truck.

North America’s five biggest waste and recycling haulers recently reported their financial numbers. | Philip Lange/Shutterstock

Recovered fiber prices have steadily increased throughout 2023, but for North America’s top five haulers, the recycling business still isn’t what it used to be. Continue Reading

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