AbitibiBowater Expands Texas MRF

The company has invested in “upgraded, state-of-the-art equipment” that will allow the MRF to annually process 250,000 tons per year, an increase from the previous capacity of 150,000 tons. New equipment includes a drum feeder, an optical sorter and other automation designed to help remove contaminants. “We are looking at any and all ways to have this upgrade benefit our community and our staff,” says Darrell Clemons, Arlington facility manager.

The $5.4 million Arlington expansion project consisted upgrades that also include a new automated scale system, a new maintenance shop area, improved facility ventilation and renovated office facilities. The upgraded system is designed to process a minimum 30 tons per hour of single-stream material.

AbitibiBowater’s Arlington recycling facility serves all of the major cities throughout North Texas and beyond, providing service to city facilities, private businesses, area school districts, hospitals, places of worship and other customers.

In late March, AbitibiBowater hosted an Open House for North Texas civic and community leaders, representatives from many of the area schools, municipalities and businesses.

Sylvain-Yves Longval, AbitibiBowater’s Vice President of North America Recycling, briefly addressed those in attendance by acknowledging the facility’s upgrades and impact on the community.

Also taking part was Jim Hobbs of Keep Texas Beautiful, Bob Horton of Keep Irving Beautiful and Arlington City Councilman Mel LeBlanc. “Arlington is a city that has a vision for the future,” says the councilman. “We appreciate our wonderful resources and are taking steps to preserve our beautiful city for future generations.”

AbitibiBowater’s investment in these upgrades and their resulting operational and energy-saving efficiencies have helped solidify the company’s position as a leader in the recycling industry. Through its efforts to divert paper from the waste stream, AbitibiBowater saves an estimated 8.5 million cubic yards of landfill space each year in North America.