MRFs – Heart of the Recycling SystemBetsy Dorn - Director, RSE USA

Resource Recycling ConferenceNew Orleans, LouisianaSeptember 1, 2016

MRFs – Part of a Dynamic System

MRF activities

impact, and are

impacted by,

upstream and

downstream entities

& actions

Those entities are

parts of other

systems – with

unique goals and

priorities

Image courtesy of Sustainable Packaging Coalition

Goals and Priorities Often Compete

Manufacturer/

Brand Owner Protect Product

Grow Market Share

Meet Sustainability

Goals

Obtain Secondary

Material Feedstock

Avoid Legislation

MRF

Meet Customer

Needs

Minimize Costs

Maximize Revenues

Protect Employees

and Equipment

Minimize Risk

Government Provide Service

Increase Diversion

Achieve Zero

Waste/SMM Goals

Minimize Disposal

Costs

Control Program

Avoid Risk

Different Actions Have Different Impacts – What is the Goal?

Example Actions Impact on

Diversion

Impact on CE Impact on MRF

Cost/ Efficiency

Increase array of

materials accepted in

programs to include low-

value plastics

Remove glass from

curbside program

Recover plastic film

through retail programs

vs. curbside

Reject contaminated

loads/carts of recyclables

Evolving Material Mixes and the MRF

MRF equipment can’t keep up

Contamination costs > $120/ton (WM)

New end markets take time to develop

Some packaging may not recyclable but may have other

environmental attributes – or not

Lightweighting increases MRF costs per ton and can reduce the

yield of a material type

Difficult to Recycle Materials Increase MRF Costs

& Pose Contamination Concerns

RSE MRF Film Study

Recent study of dual-stream MRF where

plastic film was collected curbside: MRF

sorting effectiveness measured

~ 50% of manual sorter time spent

removing film

Other materials being missed by manual

sorters and equipment

Reduced sorter availability

Reduced material visibility

Only half of incoming film captured for market. Rest was in residue or contaminated other material streams

Solution – alternative collection program for film

Photo courtesy of Machinex

Alternative Collection Methods

Alternative collection results in higher

quality materials, but impacts

convenience Return to retail Drop-off sites Separate bin/bag at curb

Photo courtesy of Oregon Metro

Brand owners often optimize their supply chain from the sourcing

of raw materials through product manufacture and beyond

Recycling/diversion viewed as a downstream externality – outside

of supply chain

Recycling must be viewed as integral part of supply chain and not

a waste management function

Circular economy cannot be achieved unless manufacturers and

brand owners design for recycling

Brand Owner Influence

Image courtesy of Sustainable Packaging Coalition

Path Forward

• Communication among stakeholders to build understanding and

alignment on goals

• Local Governments -- Commit to pay for processing and assume

some market volatility risk, due diligence before adding new materials

to programs, support regional harmonization of materials/messages

and promote More/Better

Path Forward

• Recycling Service Providers – Commit to quality control

• Manufacturers/ Brandowners – Commit to design for recyclability,

support market development; support new technology R&D and

invest in consumer communications about what, why and how to

recycle

Questions?

Betsy Dorn, Director

RSE USA

561-337-5790

bdorn@RSE-USA.com

www.RSE-USA.com