Have you ever wondered what happens to your recycling after the truck picks it up from the curb at your house? WM’s Kendra Kostelecky treated the This Is Reno crew to an exclusive inside look at the Eco Center Material Recovery facility at WM’s Reno recycling center.
What Is A Material Recovery Facility?
A Material Recovery Facility (MRF) is a specialized facility at many WM transfer stations where recyclable materials are sorted, processed, and prepared for recycling. The primary purpose of a MRF is to separate different types of recyclable materials from the mixed waste stream, allowing for their proper recycling and reuse.
The sorting process at a MRF typically involves several stages. Material is unloaded from trucks, inspected, and stored until it’s ready to be transferred to a conveyor. Sortation equipment then separates cans, containers, and bottles from paper and an eddy current and magnets work to sort aluminum and tin cans into a metals-only stream. Sorted materials are baled and shipped to customers, where they are used as feedstock for new products.
Material Recovery Facilities play a crucial role in helping to divert valuable resources from the waste stream and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills. They contribute to environmental conservation by conserving natural resources, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing pollution associated with the production of new materials.
Request a tour of the Eco Center Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) or a recycling education presentation for your group.
Learn more about how your recyclables are sorted and prepared for remanufacture.
Request a tour for your group to see how single stream recycling is processed at our Reno MRF facility or you can have our outreach team come to you. Our outreach team can visit your classroom, community group or HOA to talk about recycling options and best practices to be a recycling champion. Please fill out this form and our team will contact you to discuss scheduling options.
Please tell us your group name, size and what you are most interested in learning.
Reno EcoCenter Tour Request
If you’d like to schedule a tour, please email us at [email protected] with the following information:
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