Market
August 13, 2024
Recycling revolution
Written by Gabriella Vagnini
RMU is initiating a new process to stay abreast of the recycled metals industry’s developments. This will encompass information on new and upcoming facilities, the modernization of existing ones, and progress updates on their latest ventures. These articles will be called Recycling revolution. Below you will find three facilities that came to our attention this week.
Balcones Recycling in San Antonio
- Location: San Antonio, TX (backed by a 15-year municipal recycling contract)
- What their focus is on: New materials recovery facility to improve processing and recycling or materials, particularly aluminum and PET plastics.
- How it affects recycled metals: The facility’s advanced sorting technology will enhance the recovery and recycling rates of aluminum cans, a key recycled metal, helping to maintain its circulation with supply chains.
- Investment: $3 million loan from the American Beverage Association and Closed Loop Partners as part of the “Every Bottle Back” initiative.
- Output expectations: Expected to yield nearly 1 million tons of recyclables over the next decade, including over 20,000 tons of aluminum, critical for making recyclable cans.
Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center in Columbus
- Location: Columbus, OH (serves 50 of Ohio’s 88 counties)
- What their focus is on: The facility has doubled its processing capacity, now handling 60 tons of recycled material per hour.
- How it affects recycled metals: Increased processing capacity ensures a higher volume of metal recyclables that can be efficiently processed and returned to the supply chain.
- Investment: $100 million invested in the new facility to support long-term regional recycling infrastructure.
- Additional investments: Not only did they invest in a new facility, they also invested in a brand-new education center with interactive exhibits and a tour platform to view the recycling process in action. This will help the community to better understand how recycling works in Ohio, as stated on Rumpke’s website.
Waste Management Recycling Facility in Fort Worth
- Location: First WM recycling facility within the City of Fort Worth, expected to be operational by the end of 2025.
- What their focus is on: Will employ intelligent sorting technologies, including an additional optical sorting line.
- How it affects recycled metals: Enhanced sorting technology may improve the separation and recycling rates of metal objects, such as cans and containers, reducing contamination and increasing the quality of recycled metal output.
- Investment: Part of Waste Management’s $1 billion plan to upgrade and build new recycling facilities across the U.S.
If you know or hear of any companies that will be initiating new facilities or upgrading existing ones, we would love to hear from you. Send us an email: rmueditorial@crugroup.com.
