Recycling is an essential part of modern society, and commercial recycling is an integral component of that process. Because businesses can produce a significant amount of waste, it is important to manage it effectively to both reduce the environmental impact and cut down on waste disposal costs.
Combination loads, or loads containing a mixture of cardboard, paper, plastic, and aluminum, present unique challenges when it comes to recycling. Hiring a commercial recycler to take care of your combination loads can streamline the process and provide significant benefits, some of which we will explore below.
Combination Loads Are a Byproduct of Business
Businesses don’t just generate one kind of recyclable material. Of the 69 million tons of recycled products – out of 292 million tons of municipal solid – there is a great variety of material.
Retail stores, as an example, use cardboard boxes to ship products, while paper and plastic packaging are used to wrap individual items.
Manufacturing plants also generate combination loads from their packaging, shipping, and production processes. Restaurants have recyclable materials from food packaging, takeout containers, and beverage cups.
Companies look to recycle this material for a variety of reasons such as reducing waste, saving money, and meeting sustainability goals. Effective management of combination loads can maximize the amount of material that can be recycled and minimize waste disposal costs.
Commercial recyclers are often hired to manage combination loads because they have the expertise and equipment necessary to sort and process the materials correctly.
Sorting and Separation of Recyclables Is Key
As the EPA notes, the way things are recycled is just as important as the initiative to do it. Up to a third of recycling should have never been put out for recycling in the first place.
Sorting and separating materials can be a significant challenge for businesses with combination loads. Cardboard, paper, plastic, and aluminum need to be separated correctly to maximize their recycling potential. However, this can be a time-consuming process that requires specialized equipment and expertise.
Commercial recyclers have specialized equipment that can handle a wide range of materials, including complex combination loads.
This not only reduces waste disposal costs but also ensures that the company is doing its part to protect the environment.
Collection and Storage Done Correctly Prevent Contamination
Proper collection and storage of combination loads are also critical to the recycling process. When materials are collected and stored together, there is a higher risk of contamination, which can result in lower-quality recycled products.
As the University of Colorado, Boulder notes in a report on recycling challenges, non-recyclable materials – like liquids or plastic bags – can contaminate recyclable materials and compromise recycling machinery. Reader’s Digest adds that if recyclables are combined with food waste, it could soil paper or cardboard, potentially causing contamination of the entire recycling truckload.
A commercial recycler can provide customized collection and storage solutions, ensuring that materials are kept separate and properly stored until they are ready for processing.
Processing and Transportation to Manage Loads Effectively
Processing and transportation are crucial steps in managing combination loads effectively. After sorting and separating the materials, they then need to be processed and transported correctly to maximize their recycling potential.
This is where a commercial recycler can make a significant difference for businesses.
Commercial recyclers have processing facilities that can handle a wide range of materials, including complex combination loads. These facilities are designed to extract as much value from the materials as possible. For example, a commercial recycler may have equipment that can shred, melt, or crush different types of materials to prepare them for recycling.
A commercial recycler, like FV Recycling, also has the transportation infrastructure in place to move materials efficiently and safely from the business to the processing facility. This is especially important for businesses that generate large volumes of waste, as it can be challenging to manage transportation logistics on their own.
FV Recycling Can Help Manage A Variety of Recyclables
Many businesses can also benefit from an audit to identify areas for improvement. FV Recycling offers a complimentary audit that helps businesses understand their current practices, identify opportunities to reduce waste and costs, and create a customized solution for recycling their combination loads.
FV Recycling can help businesses streamline the recycling process, providing customized solutions for sorting, separating, collecting, storing, processing, and transporting your combination loads. We look forward to learning how we can best serve you.