Dive Brief:
- A revamped single-stream materials recovery facility in Hutchinson, MN has increased residential recycling rates in the county by 20%, just three months into operation. The MRF recently had a $4.4 million renovation that was intended to make the plant more efficient while increasing processing capacity and providing more than 20 jobs.
- Modernizing the MRF was a response to local officials’ inability to increase recycling efforts among its commercial and residential customers, located throughout 14 townships. The MRF had previously been processing 6,000 tons of waste annually, yet at its current rate of collection, it may process over 11,000 tons by the end of its first operating year, according to McLeod County Solid Waste Coordinator Sarah Young.
- The upgrade of the MRF was done by Burns & McDonnell solid waste and resource recovery group in April. By reusing portions of the facility's old equipment, the firm was able to save McLeod County an estimated $1 million.
Dive Insight:
Previous to the new MRF in McLeod County — which is located 60 miles wast of the Twin Cities — recycling among customers was at a frustrating plateau. “Although we had continued to do a lot of education, we just couldn’t get those numbers to climb from where they were at and in looking at what was working in other cities and counties throughout Minnesota and the nation, we thought single stream was the next step,” said Young.
As the recycling industry presents challenging obstacles to communities and businesses, many counties, including New Hanover County, NC and Delaware County, NY, have turned to materials recovery facilities as an economical solution to increase recycling efficiency.
