ReCommunity Opens Delaware MRF

ReCommunity, Charlotte, N.C., held a grand opening for its newest materials recovery facility (MRF) in Wilmington, Del., in late August. The MRF, the 35th the company operates, occurs at the start of a 20-year agreement between ReCommunity and the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) for ReCommunity to operate the facility, which will serve the entire state.

“Recycling is important to Delaware’s economy and environment,” said Delaware Governor Jack Markell In prepared remarks at the grand opening. “ReCommunity’s investment and its technological innovation perfectly align with statewide universal recycling programs with the goal of turning waste streams into economic opportunities for Delaware by ensuring material and resource recovery. We also welcome ReCommunity’s commitment to the state’s recycling requirements – reflecting the company’s recycling leadership in the 21st century.”

The company invested $15 million to repurpose the existing 64,000-square-foot facility, which included the installation of sorting equipment within the Delaware Recycling Center (DRC) to process aluminum, plastic, paper, cardboard, steel cans and glass collected from throughout Delaware.

“When DSWA reviewed the proposals for green industries at the DRC, it was clear ReCommunity is a leader in the recycling industry,” says Pat Canzano DSWA CEO. “But what was most impressive about them is their commitment to Delaware and the surrounding community.”

Prior to ReCommunity opening the facility DSWA collected recyclables at one of two transfer stations in the state and then transported the material to MRFs outside the state, including ReCommunity MRFs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The MRF includes advanced automated sorting capabilities that allow identification, separation and recovery of recyclables. The equipment, much of it installed by Bulk Handling Systems (BHS), Eugene, Ore., includes screening, optical sorting, air and controls technology to recover more than 90 percent of the recyclables. The facility has been scaled to process more than 35 tons per hour, with the capacity to handle more than 160,000 tons per year.

“Delaware is rapidly emerging as a national leader in recycling, demonstrating that environmental stewardship and economic prosperity can go hand-in-hand,” says Collin O’Mara, Secretary of Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. “Through this state-of-the-art facility, DSWA and ReCommunity will reduce material going to landfills, create well-paying jobs and support new market opportunities for entrepreneurs.”