Republic Services Completes Ohio MRF Retrofit

Phoenix-based Republic Services has announced that its Lorain County Resource Recovery facility in Oberlin, Ohio, has been completely retrofitted. The material recovery facility (MRF) can now process up to 150,000 tons of recyclables per year, close to three times its previous capacity.

The facility, now open, processes commercial and residential materials from five counties in northeast Ohio. The retrofit project began November 2012 and was completed in March 2013.

Republic Services points out that all the technology at the facility has been updated. Retrofits include custom-engineered, manufactured and installed conveyors, separation screens, magnets, optical sorters and balers. Additionally, the company has completed a 12,000-square-foot expansion of its warehouse. The equipment vendor for the program was CP Group, San Diego. 

Along with the MRF expansion, the Lorain County Resource Recovery Facility, which opened in 1992, has expanded the types of recyclables in can accept. Material now handled by the MRF includes plastics 1 through 7, all grades of paper, old corrugated containers, glass, aluminum and steel. Republic Services says the new system produces less than 10 percent residual waste, keeping more waste out the landfill.

“Through expansion and redesign, this impressive facility uses advanced sorting equipment to identify and separate materials, increasing efficiency and maximizing recycling efforts,” says Eric VanHouten, general manager of Republic’s Elyria Business Unit. “The renovation shows Republic’s dedication to our local environmental efforts and has allowed us to enhance and grow the recycling efforts made by our customers.”

The enhanced recycling center has been designed to run at 35 tons per hour. Prior to the expansion the facility was able to process 15 tons of recyclables per hour.

In related news, Republic Services’ Lorain County Resource Recovery Facility, along with Elyria Hauling, are now accepting food and beverage cartons in the residential curbside collection programs.

“We’re pleased to offer more recycling choices. Adding cartons to our recycling lineup is just one more way we are showing our strong commitment to recycling in northeast Ohio," says VanHouten.