Republic Services retrofits Seattle MRF for efficiency

Republic Services has retrofitted the fiber lines in its 45-ton-per-hour material recovery facility (MRF) in Seattle, also known as Rabanco Recycling. The retrofit included the addition of two single-eject and two dual-eject MSS Fibermax optical sorters from CP Group of San Diego. 

The dual-eject MSS Fibermax units remove cardboard and prohibitives from the paper line. These units have reduced headcount by 44 percent on the fiber quality control stations, according to the supplier. The machines also capture small old corrugated containers (OCC) and remove remaining contamination from the fiber. 

In 2018, Phoenix-based Republic added two single-eject MSS Fibermax optical sorters at the Rabanco MRF to meet China’s then new import requirements for recovered fiber, which stipulated less than 0.5 percent contamination. Their installation allowed the company to reduce headcount on the fiber quality control stations by 50 percent. 

According to a press release from CP Group, the company added the two dual-eject Fibermax units on March 21 of this year after the success of the previous installations. CP worked with the local Republic team to integrate the optical sorters over multiple weekends to eliminate plant downtime during the retrofit. 

“Since installing the Fibermax additions, we have increased revenue, improved the quality and value of material and improved the overall operation of the MRF,” says Don Zimmerman, operations manager at Rabanco Recycling. “The CP team are truly an outstanding group to work with, from installation to service, and the machines speak for themselves.” 

“It has been a pleasure to work with Republic Seattle on their Fibermax additions,” says Terry Schneider, president and CEO of CP Group. “We are happy to see the return on investment in these retrofits payback so quickly. Our companies were able to work together to achieve minimal downtime, as well. This is a very successful integration and one that we are proud of.” 

Republic Services hired CP Group to integrate several other Fibermax units in recent years, including at its MRFs in Anaheim, California; San Antonio; Las Vegas; Tucson, Arizona; Fort Worth, Texas; Oberlin, Ohio; Conover, North Carolina, and other locations.