Sonoco Recycling LLC has completed a $2 million upgrade at its materials recovery facility (MRF) in Onslow County, N.C. The investment will allow the MRF to increase the volume of recyclables it handles.

The investment includes a new CP system that will allow the company to sort all components of the single stream, both residential and commercial, says Ray Howard, general manager of Sonoco Recycling. In addition to widening the type of recyclables the MRF can handle, Sonoco also expects to see the sorting capability increase from 2 tons per hour to 15 tons per hour.

"Onslow County is one of the premier coastal counties of North Carolina, and environmental stewardship has always been of the utmost importance," says Scott Bost, Onslow County’s solid waste director. "With that in mind, we are extremely pleased to partner with Sonoco Recycling to provide long-term recycling capabilities to the citizens of the Onslow County area. Sonoco Recycling's expertise and many years of experience in the recycling industry will continue to move the county forward with efficient and sustainable waste management."

Howard says, "In the year that we've been here, we've found the Onslow community to be very progressive in the areas of sustainability and recycling. We are excited to provide them with expanded recycling capabilities and help the county continue to move forward in these areas."

Currently, Sonoco Recycling operates six MRFs and serves more than 125 communities. The investment is part of Sonoco’s corporate strategy to invest at many of its recycling facilities. The company expects to have a similar upgrade completed at its Greenville, S.C., MRF by the beginning of October.