Tulsa Recycle and Transfer (TRT), Tulsa, Okla., has opened what it is calling Tulsa’s first permitted materials recovery facility (MRF). A ceremony celebrating the plant’s opening included a visit from Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett, who declared April 18 as Tulsa Recycle and Transfer Day through the city of Tulsa.
“We’re very proud of our MRF and the hard work that went into its design and set up,” says Kenny Burkett, founder and owner of TRT, American Environmental Landfill and American Waste Control.“The MRF is one of the most innovative [things] created to tackle our growing waste problems. We know by recycling valuable materials and re-using them in the manufacturing process, we’re creating a cleaner environment for Tulsa for generations to come.”
Automation is a key feature of the new MRF, says TRT. Tom Hill, CEO of Burkett’s companies, says the new MRF technology could increase recycling rates for TRT by 35 to 40 percent. “We’re now looking to recover 40 to 60 tons of cardboard from the waste stream per day,” says Hill. “And that doesn’t even count all the tons of metal, aluminum and plastics we can also recover. While other companies love talking about their recycling efforts, the fact is, no one has recycled more materials in Tulsa over the last 24 years—over 375,000 tons since our inception. That’s a record we’re very proud of and look forward to continuing.”
In addition to the environmental pluses, Hill expects the MRF facility to help spur economic growth in Tulsa by adding 25 to 35 new jobs initially, with the possibility of more jobs if a second shift is added.
TRT’s new MRF is located near downtown Tulsa. It accepts newspapers, cardboard, aluminum, tin-plated steel cans and plastic at its transfer location. It has drop-off hours from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
Plans are in the works for special tours of its MRF facility, which will soon feature a viewing platform for families and students to watch the MRF at work. In addition, TRT has a mascot, named Mr. Murph, designed to help educate families and children about the recycling process and how the MRF’s technology improves that process.
TRT, founded in 1987, is a privately owned company that has made a $5 million investment in the plant. More information on the company can be found at http://feedmrmurph.com/.
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