YOU CAN’T MANAGE WHAT YOU CAN’T MEASURE: RECYCLING WITH AIPOWERED ROBOTICS

You can’t manage what you can’t measure: recycling with AI-powered robotics

AMP ROBOTICS’ ROB WRITZ TALKS ROBOT POWER, MATERIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND THE FUTURE OF THE MRF

BY KEITH BARKER, EDITOR

At the 2020 MRF Summit in November, hosted jointly by ISRI and SWANA, Rob Writz, director of business development for AMP Robotics, was one of three panellists in a session titled: “Improve Efficiency and Productivity Through Technology.” Along with Will Herzog from Machinex; Brent Hildebrand, GFL’s director of recycling; and moderator Michael Timpane from industry consulting firm Resource Recycling Systems (RRS), the session focused on the very important role automation, artificial intelligence, and specifically, robotic sorting technology, have played so far, and will play, as our industry continues to evolve rapidly through the next decade.

According to Rob Writz, while it has not been long since robots first made inroads into recycling (since about 2016) the impact they’re having on the productivity and efficiency of materials recovery facilities (MRFs) is now clearly evident.

“Robots address many of the central challenges the recycling industry currently faces, from worker safety and bale purity to labour shortages, all while lowering the overall long-term cost of recycling,” said Writz.

Most recyclables sorting robots deployed today use some form of artificial intelligence software, combined most commonly with near-infrared or optical sensors. The latter is now more common and uses a video camera, not too dissimilar from what might be used in the average smartphone, but more industrialized.

AMP’s robots are integrated with an optical sensor and AI to digitize objects that pass by on a conveyor belt. Colours, shapes, textures, logos and other traits are detected, and correlated with material types so that the platform learns to identify objects in the same way a human does.

According to Writz, AMP is the only robotics manufacturing company focused on the recycling industry (of which there are currently less than 10 major manufacturers globally) that has developed both their in-house artificial intelligence and engineering software, as well as the robotic hardware and components. AMP’s software is designed to understand the heterogeneity, value and contamination in solid waste streams, and it grows smarter and more effective over time as AMP’s fleet of AI-guided robots expands.

“This is material intelligence – a new category of information,” wrote Writz in a recent blog. “The power of AI as a tool for boosting productivity and efficiency is still in its early stages, and we’re working with innovative customers like GFL Environmental on new

product development efforts. We’ve been successfully beta testing solutions that will help the industry take advantage of this burgeoning potential.”

Artificial Intelligence is taking hold currently in many industries where material flow is a factor, including electricity, wastewater and water utilities.

“Each developed and deployed a form of meter to cost-effectively count the movement of its material, then deployed various efficiencies to become ‘smart utilities,’” said Writz. “As its sophistication and value grows, AI technology powering robots can become the material flow meter for recycling, helping operators understand not just the what, but the why, behind changes in the material they’re processing.”

RISE OF THE ROBOTS

The first robots were a Cartesian design which moves in one dimension, relatively slowly. Most robotic providers today are using some form of a Delta robot suspended above the belt, which moves in three dimensions at once.

AI-powered recycling sorting robots are now very accurate in detecting and capturing a wide range of core commodities at the MRF. Currently, AMP’s sorting robots can recognize about 35 separate categories of materials. This number is increasing with regularity as is the speed with which material is captured from a belt.

“We’ve gone from about 10 to 20 picks per minute to where we are now, at 70 to 80 picks per minute, per robot arm.”

In comparison, the average human picks at best 30 to 40 per minute, and this rate is hard for a person to sustain consistently over an eight-hour shift.

Robots are not only increasing throughput at the MRF, they’re helping ensure worker safety by eliminating hazardous jobs, and keeping the MRF resilient to fluctuating macro economic and other influences. With all these benefits, relatively quick ROI depending on various factors, and easy integration into existing facilities, Writz said they are being added at a very high rate around the world.

“There’s probably several hundred robots deployed now in North America, for single-stream and dual-stream applications and also some in C&D,” said Writz. “That’s probably two to three times the number of installed units, compared to where we were at this time, last year.”

Since the onset of COVID-19, demand for AI and robotics technology has definitely accelerated. Writz said businesses are increasingly turning to automation to keep employees safe amid social distancing requirements, navigate ongoing labour shortages to remain operational, and adapt to spikes in residential volume and evolving material types caused by abrupt shifts in consumer buying patterns. Through 2020, AMP has seen a significant increase in orders and interest in deploying its technology on a larger scale to address these challenges.

The company’s robotic deployments now span North America, Asia and Eu-

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THE AI TECHNOLOGY POWERING ROBOTS “ CAN BECOME THE MATERIAL FLOW METER FOR RECYCLING, HELPING OPERATORS UNDERSTAND NOT JUST THE WHAT, BUT THE WHY, BEHIND CHANGES IN THE MATERIAL THEY’RE PROCESSING . . . TODAY’S MRF WILL EVOLVE FROM MATERIAL HUBS INTO INFORMATION HUBS. “

ROB WRITZ, AMP ROBOTICS

rope. Within the United States, AMP’s footprint covers more than 20 states, including California, New York and Florida, and their first North American deployment of robotic sorting of construction and demolition debris is planned to be up and running in early 2021. This latest milestone for AMP follows the achievement of one billion picks for its fleet of AI-guided robots over a 12-month period, as of earlier this year. In 2020, the company also received recognition including Fortune’s “Impact 20,” Forbes’ “AI 50,” and Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies.”

In November, AMP announced that the company has signed a long-term agreement with Waste Connections to deploy 24 AI-guided robotics systems throughout the U.S. The deal is AMP’s largest to date, and Waste Connections plans to deploy the systems on container, fibre and residue lines across numerous materials recovery facilities.

At Waste Connections, AMP’s AI platform will precisely identify different types of plastics, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), highdensity polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS), sorted Three-dimensional robotic arms combined with optical sensor technology records video of the material on the conveyor belt in the MRF, and uses artificially intelligent pattern recognition software to register all shapes, colours and logos, all the unique, visual aspects of objects, down to near-pixel level. It then recognizes and infers in real time what those objects are, and whether they should be picked, at rates up to 70 per minute.

further by colour, clarity and opacity, along with different form factors – lids, tubs, clamshells, cups and more.

Commenting on their new relationship, Matanya Horowitz, founder and CEO of AMP Robotics, said “We’re thrilled to be supporting Waste Connections’ commitment to expanding resource recovery as we extend our efforts to modernize recycling operations and advance a more circular economy. To see such a robust expansion of our pipeline and mark this milestone in a year upended by COVID-19 is a testament to our industry-leading technology.”

DATA AND AI TO THE FUTURE So, what’s next for AMP and AI-powered robotic sorting at the MRF?

Writz says the next step in their product development is to further integrate AI and data collection into the MRF, allowing operators to, for example, graphically compare material stream data to historical baselines, define material count thresholds and create alerts triggered by movement above or below these thresholds. MRF operators will also soon be able to efficiently export data for further analysis and integration into business intelligence platforms. “The intention is to deliver real-time monitoring and analysis of material composition as it flows through a facility, providing visibility into and feedback about material streams.”

According to Writz, with data and tangible metrics, operators can get ahead of mechanical or configurationbased issues and communicate much better with business partners or key staff in the facility.

“You can’t manage what you can’t measure, and the industry recognizes this,” writes Writz in his recent blog. “As we continue to listen to and partner with the industry, we’re focused on enabling action based on data. The continuous improvement of our software infrastructure enhances these data-based capabilities, and we’re regularly adding new categories of material for identification.”

Currently, AMP is working with some of their early adopters and beta customers on a new product scheduled for release at some point in 2021.

“It’s in beta mode, with customers including GFL,” said Writz in a recent interview with RPN. “It will allow the MRF operator to better interact with the data to view all these different commodities in the MRF over different periods of time. For example, they could ask, ‘How much aluminum UVC has exited their point of last chance, or how much residue?’ They can then begin to quantify or understand the amount of material they may be losing and make changes in the system to capture more of a given material.”

He continued, “It is something that we plan to roll out in 2021 to really help MRF operators access this data in a way that we think they haven’t actually ever seen before. This is the material count information. In some ways we view it as “the missing link” of data that’s going to become really useful for operators as they understand the flow within their facility and at different points in the facility.

“As we look to the future, it’s AI that offers great potential to continue to transform recycling, delivering more value to MRFs and beyond. Today’s MRF will evolve from material hubs into information hubs. As we extend our efforts to deploy technology that shifts the economics of the industry and grows the circular economy, further embracing AI and the data and insights it yields will keep the industry moving forward.” RPN

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NEW MRF CREATES OPPORTUNITY to maximize recovery and best serve our local community,” James Mazza says. The company began the process by touring numerous recycling plants Presenting the newest technologies for cost-efficient recycling. NEWSVAN DYK NEWS Presenting the newest technologies for cost-efficient recycling. NEWSVAN DYK NEWS supplied by a range of companies. “The first thing I looked at was the trash line,”

Mazza Recycling has roots dating back to 1964, when James James Mazza says. “If there were a lot of and Dominick Mazza’s grandfather started a demolition and scrap recyclables left on that, sometimes I just company. Since those early years, the Mazza family has developed a range of businesses. The current 55-acre facility in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, from which the firm operates, was purchased in the early 1980s. “My father and uncle operated here, primarily focused on the C&D transfer station, their demolition business, and NEW ROBOT IN TOWN NEW ROBOT IN TOWN left. As I went around, one thing became clear to me, the plants supplied by Van Dyk had less residue, and they were doing a better job capturing more recyclables and producing cleaner commodities.” also leasing a portion to a mulch producer,” James Mazza shares. Because Mazza Recycling was coming “In 2016, my cousin Dominick and I bought the business from our fathers. Defining the future trajectory of the business then became our responsibility,” he continues. James and Dominick Mazza were no strangers to the recycling industry. James began working with his father when he was 10 years old. “He’d have me work on whatever needed to be done. I’ve torn down buildings, operated machines, cut scrap, and sorted cardboard,” he says. When James and Dominick took over the business, they began expanding nearly immediately. They added roll-off service, then front-loader service for commercial accounts. Immediately, they saw the benefit of added recycling services. “We purchased an old baler and began direct baling cardboard. We added With a focus on meeting the client’s needs with the best possible plant or retrofit solution, Van Dyk Recycling Solutions has the most flexible offerings in intelligent and robotics sorting. Van Dyk’s long-time manufacturing partner, Bollegraaf, has been working on its own robotic solution since 2005, and now offers the RoBB-AQC with With a focus on meeting the client’s needs with the best possible plant or retrofit solution, Van Dyk Recycling Solutions has the most flexible offerings in intelligent and robotics sorting. Van Dyk’s long-time manufacturing partner, Bollegraaf, has been working on to the single-stream recycling business with no real experience, there was a lot to learn. “I understood recycling and the commodities markets, but I did not know single-stream,” James Mazza says. “The Van Dyk team helped a lot; they were very knowledgeable. Pete Bond was a great resource. He really worked with us to help build our knowledge.” He continues, “The Van Dyk plants a very simple commercial sort line, and we were off,” James Mazza says. a camera and NIR (near infrared) its own robotic solution since 2005, were simply better built, and clearly had a Volumes continued to grow as the company saw tremendous opportunity in materials identification system. and now offers the RoBB-AQC with lot more understanding of what it takes to Central New Jersey. But the customer also has the a camera and NIR (near infrared) achieve and maintain production in the long “Three years ago, we began planning to build a recycling plant. Initially we were term. That stood out to us. We’d upgraded reduction of ONP, increase of film and trash; high choice to outfit the RoBB-AQC with materials identification system. thinking of a commercial plant. The more we researched and looked into it, however, our baling capacity a year ago to a Bol-maintenance costs; and increasing end product world-renowned TOMRA Autosort But the customer also has the the more convinced we became that building a single-stream plant would allow us legraaf 120S, so we had some experience with the quality of their equipment.” The new 26-ton-per-hour recycling plant opened in September 2020. The Mazza Recycling plant features Lubo non-wrapping screens, a Lubo elliptical separator, Tomra optical sorters and numerous other components all integrated by Van Dyk Recycling Solutions. quality demands are just a few of them. There also are challenges with respect to maintaining a safe working environment and manual sorting labor issues - like finding willing candidates to show up daily and dedicate themselves to working the sort line. These struggles make the allure of AI all the more appealing. Whatever technology is being considered, it is critical to first examine all points in the sort line that could use improvement. A simple adjustment to a sizing screen, for example, can improve separation and prevent the start of a domino effect that ripples down the line and makes sorting conditions too chalrecognition. The TOMRA recognition offers a combination of sensors, including: NIR, camera, AI (artificial intelligence) recognition, laser object detection, and highresolution metals sensors. Through long-standing relationships with manufacturers of the best technology the recycling world has to offer, Van Dyk is able to find a solution that fits your needs and goals. In today’s world the integration of intelligent reduction of ONP, increase of film and trash; high maintenance costs; and increasing end product quality demands are just a few of them. There also are challenges with respect to maintaining a safe working environment and manual sorting labor issues - like finding willing candidates to show up daily and dedicate themselves to working the sort line. These struggles make the allure of AI all the more appealing. Whatever technology is being considered, it is critical to first examine all choice to outfit the RoBB-AQC with world-renowned TOMRA Autosort recognition. The TOMRA recognition offers a combination of sensors, including: NIR, camera, AI (artificial intelligence) recognition, laser object detection, and highresolution metals sensors. Through long-standing relationships with manufacturers of the best technology the sorting solutions is becoming more and more recycling world has to offer, Van Dyk is able to “We’re thrilled with the plant,” James lenging for any intelligent sorting device. The most critical factor to an optical points in the sort line that could use improvement. A simple adjustment to a necessary for MRFs to remain competitive. find a solution that fits your needs and goals. Mazza says. “It will allow us sorter’s or robot’s success is that the infeed belt provides it an even, single layer sizing screen, for example, can improve separation and prevent the start of a Equally necessary is for MRFs to evaluate In today’s world the integration of intelligent to offer our surrounding of material—not deep piles. The more spread the material can be, the more acdomino effect that ripples down the line and makes sorting conditions too chalthe efficiency of their entire system before sorting solutions is becoming more and more communities a far more curate and successful the technology will be in recognizing, picking and sorting. lenging for any intelligent sorting device. The most critical factor to an optical deciding on which type of new technology to invest in. Expert Integration Van Dyk visits MRF operations all over the U.S. and Canada to see first-hand the challenges these sites face. Highly contaminated inbound material streams; stream changes due to factors such as light-weighting, the Amazon effect, necessary for MRFs to remain competitive. Equally necessary is for MRFs to evaluate the efficiency of their entire system before deciding on which type of new technology to invest in. Expert Integration Van Dyk visits MRF operations all over the U.S. economical recycling solution; we’re very excited about that opportunity. Recycling is the future, and we’re thrilled to be part of it here in Running a recycling operation is a challenge with many factors. Van Dyk works with clients to integrate robots or other intelligent sorting solutions, while also ensuring the entire system design and process will deliver the desired results. When it comes to using the latest robotic or optical sorting technology, recycling facility operators should keep in mind that it is really all about the way the system is fed. Put simply: intelligent sorting technology is only as good as the quality of its material feed. sorter’s or robot’s success is that the infeed belt provides it an even, single layer of material—not deep piles. The more spread the material can be, the more accurate and successful the technology will be in recognizing, picking and sorting. Running a recycling operation is a challenge with many factors. Van Dyk works with clients to integrate robots or other intelligent sorting solutions, while also ensuring the entire system design and process will deliver the desired results. When it comes to using the latest robotic or optical sorting and Canada to see first-hand the challenges New Jersey.” technology, recycling facility operators should keep in mind that it is really all these sites face. Highly contaminated inbound about the way the system is fed. material streams; stream changes due to factors Put simply: intelligent sorting technology is only as good as the quality of such as light-weighting, the Amazon effect, its material feed.

VAN DYK NEWS

NEW MRF CREATES NEW MRF CREATES to maximize recovery and best serve our local community,” James Mazza says. to maximize recovery and best serve our local community,” James Mazza says. NEW MRF CREATES OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY The company began the process by touring numerous recycling plants The company began the process by touring numerous recycling plants OPPORTUNITY supplied by a range of companies. “The supplied by a range of companies. “The M Mazza Recycling has roots dating back to 1964, when James and Dominick Mazza’s grandfather started a demolition and scrap company. Since those early years, the Mazza family has developed a range of businesses. first thing I looked at was the trash line,” James Mazza says. “If there were a lot of recyclables left on that, sometimes I just left. As I went around, one thing became clear to me, the plants supplied by Van azza Recycling has roots dating back to 1964, when James and Dominick Mazza’s grandfather started a demolition and scrap company. Since those early years, the Mazza family has developed a range of businesses. first thing I looked at was the trash line,” James Mazza says. “If there were a lot of recyclables left on that, sometimes I just left. As I went around, one thing became clear to me, the plants supplied by Van M azza Recycling has roots dating back to 1964, when James and Dominick Mazza’s grandfather started a demolition and scrap company. Since those early years, the Mazza family has developed a range of businesses. The current 55-acre facility in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, from which the firm operates, was purchased in the early 1980s. “My father and uncle operated here, primarily focused on the C&D transfer station, their demolition business, and also leasing a portion to a mulch producer,” James Mazza shares. “In 2016, my cousin Dominick and I bought the business from our fathers. Defining Dyk had less residue, and they were doing a better job capturing more recyclables and producing cleaner commodities.” Because Mazza Recycling was coming to the single-stream recycling business The current 55-acre facility in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, from which the firm operates, was purchased in the early 1980s. “My father and uncle operated here, primarily focused on the C&D transfer station, their demolition business, and also leasing a portion to a mulch producer,” James Mazza shares. Dyk had less residue, and they were doing a better job capturing more recyclables and producing cleaner commodities.” Because Mazza Recycling was coming The current 55-acre facility in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, from which the firm operates, was purchased in the early 1980s. “My father and uncle operated here, primarily focused on the C&D transfer station, their demolition business, and also leasing a portion to a mulch producer,” James Mazza shares. the future trajectory of the business then became our responsibility,” he continues. “In 2016, my cousin Dominick and I bought the business from our fathers. Defining with no real experience, there was a lot to the single-stream recycling business “In 2016, my cousin Dominick and I bought the business from our fathers. Defining James and Dominick Mazza were no strangers to the recycling industry. the future trajectory of the business then became our responsibility,” he continues. to learn. “I understood recycling and the with no real experience, there was a lot the future trajectory of the business then became our responsibility,” he continues. James began working with his father when he was 10 years old. “He’d have James and Dominick Mazza were no strangers to the recycling industry. commodities markets, but I did not know to learn. “I understood recycling and the James and Dominick Mazza were no strangers to the recycling industry. me work on whatever needed to be done. I’ve torn down buildings, operated James began working with his father when he was 10 years old. “He’d have single-stream,” James Mazza says. “The commodities markets, but I did not know James began working with his father when he was 10 years old. “He’d have machines, cut scrap, and sorted cardboard,” he says. me work on whatever needed to be done. I’ve torn down buildings, operated Van Dyk team helped a lot; they were single-stream,” James Mazza says. “The me work on whatever needed to be done. I’ve torn down buildings, operated When James and Dominick took over the business, they began expanding machines, cut scrap, and sorted cardboard,” he says. very knowledgeable. Pete Bond was a Van Dyk team helped a lot; they were machines, cut scrap, and sorted cardboard,” he says. nearly immediately. They added roll-off service, then front-loader service for comWhen James and Dominick took over the business, they began expanding great resource. He really worked with us very knowledgeable. Pete Bond was a When James and Dominick took over the business, they began expanding mercial accounts. Immediately, they saw the benefit of added recycling services. nearly immediately. They added roll-off service, then front-loader service for com- to help build our knowledge.” great resource. He really worked with us nearly immediately. They added roll-off service, then front-loader service for com “We purchased an old baler and began direct baling cardboard. We added mercial accounts. Immediately, they saw the benefit of added recycling services. He continues, “The Van Dyk plants to help build our knowledge.” mercial accounts. Immediately, they saw the benefit of added recycling services. a very simple commercial sort line, and we were off,” James Mazza says. “We purchased an old baler and began direct baling cardboard. We added were simply better built, and clearly had a He continues, “The Van Dyk plants “We purchased an old baler and began direct baling cardboard. We added Volumes continued to grow as the company saw tremendous opportunity in a very simple commercial sort line, and we were off,” James Mazza says. lot more understanding of what it takes to were simply better built, and clearly had a a very simple commercial sort line, and we were off,” James Mazza says. Central New Jersey. “Three years ago, we began planning to build a recycling plant. Initially we were thinking of a commercial plant. The more we researched and looked into it, however, the more convinced we became that building a single-stream plant would allow us achieve and maintain production in the long term. That stood out to us. We’d upgraded our baling capacity a year ago to a Bollegraaf 120S, so we had some experience with the quality of their equipment.” The new 26-ton-per-hour recycling Volumes continued to grow as the company saw tremendous opportunity in Central New Jersey. “Three years ago, we began planning to build a recycling plant. Initially we were thinking of a commercial plant. The more we researched and looked into it, however, the more convinced we became that building a single-stream plant would allow us lot more understanding of what it takes to achieve and maintain production in the long term. That stood out to us. We’d upgraded our baling capacity a year ago to a Bollegraaf 120S, so we had some experience with the quality of their equipment.” Volumes continued to grow as the company saw tremendous opportunity in Central New Jersey. “Three years ago, we began planning to build a recycling plant. Initially we were thinking of a commercial plant. The more we researched and looked into it, however, the more convinced we became that building a single-stream plant would allow us plant opened in September 2020. The new 26-ton-per-hour recycling The Mazza Recycling plant features plant opened in September 2020. Lubo non-wrapping screens, a Lubo elliptical separator, Tomra optical sorters and numerous other components all integrated by Van Dyk Recycling Solutions. The Mazza Recycling plant features Lubo non-wrapping screens, a Lubo elliptical separator, Tomra optical sorters “We’re thrilled with the plant,” James and numerous other components all inteMazza says. “It will allow us grated by Van Dyk Recycling Solutions. to offer our surrounding “We’re thrilled with the plant,” James communities a far more Mazza says. “It will allow us economical recycling to offer our surrounding solution; we’re very communities a far more excited about that economical recycling opportunity. Recysolution; we’re very cling is the future, excited about that and we’re thrilled to opportunity. Recybe part of it here in cling is the future, New Jersey.”and we’re thrilled to be part of it here in New Jersey.”

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NEW MRF CREATES to maximize recovery and best serve our local community,” James Mazza says. OPPORTUNITY The company began the process by touring numerous recycling plants supplied by a range of companies. “The first thing I looked at was the trash line,”

Mazza Recycling has roots dating back to 1964, when James James Mazza says. “If there were a lot of and Dominick Mazza’s grandfather started a demolition and scrap recyclables left on that, sometimes I just company. Since those early years, the Mazza family has developed left. As I went around, one thing became a range of businesses. clear to me, the plants supplied by Van

The current 55-acre facility in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, from which the firm Dyk had less residue, and they were doing operates, was purchased in the early 1980s. “My father and uncle operated here, a better job capturing more recyclables primarily focused on the C&D transfer station, their demolition business, and and producing cleaner commodities.” also leasing a portion to a mulch producer,” James Mazza shares. Because Mazza Recycling was coming

“In 2016, my cousin Dominick and I bought the business from our fathers. Defining to the single-stream recycling business the future trajectory of the business then became our responsibility,” he continues. with no real experience, there was a lot

James and Dominick Mazza were no strangers to the recycling industry. to learn. “I understood recycling and the 10 REASONS TO BUY A BOLLEGRAAF BALER “W ith the HBC140 we can run the same tonnage as a facility twice our size. Right off the bat, it added 25 percent to our capacity with no signs of slowing down. The technological advancements on it are just tremendous.” Scott Jenkins, President, EFI Recycling 10 REASONS TO BUY A BOLLEGRAAF BALER “W ith the HBC140 we can run the same tonnage as a facility twice our size. Right off the bat, it added 25 percent to our capacity with no signs of slowing down. The technological advancements on it are just tremendous.” Scott Jenkins, PresiJames began working with his father when he was 10 years old. “He’d have me work on whatever needed to be done. I’ve torn down buildings, operated machines, cut scrap, and sorted cardboard,” he says. When James and Dominick took over the business, they began expanding nearly immediately. They added roll-off service, then front-loader service for commercial accounts. Immediately, they saw the benefit of added recycling services. “We purchased an old baler and began direct baling cardboard. We added a very simple commercial sort line, and we were off,” James Mazza says. Volumes continued to grow as the company saw tremendous opportunity in Central New Jersey. “Three years ago, we began planning to build a recycling plant. Initially we were found them to be consistently dependable. I recently purchased my sixth one.” Rod Nicolls, Vice President of Operations, Urban Impact “The pre-press flap allowed us to bale without shearing, so maintenance costs improved and downtime was significantly reduced.” Joe DiNardi, President, Colgate Paper Stock “It produces dense, symmetrical bales that are perfect for export.” Michael “Recycle” found them to be consistently dependable. I recently purchased my sixth one.” Rod Nicolls, Vice President of Operations, Urban Impact “The pre-press flap allowed us to bale without shearing, so maintenance costs improved and downtime was significantly reduced.” Joe DiNardi, President, Colgate Paper Stock “It produces dense, symmetrical bales commodities markets, but I did not know single-stream,” James Mazza says. “The Van Dyk team helped a lot; they were very knowledgeable. Pete Bond was a great resource. He really worked with us to help build our knowledge.” He continues, “The Van Dyk plants were simply better built, and clearly had a lot more understanding of what it takes to achieve and maintain production in the long term. That stood out to us. We’d upgraded “Our HBC120S truly is automatic and an integral part of our high throughput and dent, EFI Recyclingthinking of a commercial plant. The more we researched and looked into it, however, Benedetto, President, TFC Recycling that are perfect for export.” Michael “Recycle” our baling capacity a year ago to a Bolproductivity. If you are serious about throughput and quality, get a Bollegraaf.” Mike “Our HBC120S truly is automatic and an integral part of our high throughput and the more convinced we became that building a single-stream plant would allow us “The 120S model packs a lot better than Benedetto, President, TFC Recyclinglegraaf 120S, so we had some experience Ferro, General Manager City Carting/WTI MRF “There are many things that set Bollegraaf balers apart from the competition, but in my opinion, it is the organization as a whole. From sales to service and parts, to ownership, Van Dyk stands behind their equipment and provides a level of support that is hard to find in the marketplace.” Kevin Duncombe, President, Western Pacific Pulp & Paper “We soon realized we purchased much more than a piece of equipment designed to bale material. The Bollegraaf has brought a confidence with it that radiates through productivity. If you are serious about throughput and quality, get a Bollegraaf.” Mike Ferro, General Manager City Carting/WTI MRF “There are many things that set Bollegraaf balers apart from the competition, but in my opinion, it is the organization as a whole. From sales to service and parts, to ownership, Van Dyk stands behind their equipment and provides a level of support that is hard to find in the marketplace.” Kevin Duncombe, President, Western Pacific Pulp & Paper “We soon realized we purchased much more than a piece of equipment designed our previous baler with a lot less downtime.” Dale Schmidt, Recycle Manager, Loraas Recycle “The engineering, construction and performance on the Bollegraaf is top of the line—the Cadillac of balers.” Frank Sánchez, Vice President, Town Recycling LLC “We have an HBC120 for containers and an HBC140 for fiber. Both exceed our expecta“The 120S model packs a lot better than our previous baler with a lot less downtime.” Dale Schmidt, Recycle Manager, Loraas Recycle “The engineering, construction and performance on the Bollegraaf is top of the line—the Cadillac of balers.” Frank Sánchez, Vice President, Town Recycling LLC “We have an HBC120 for containers and with the quality of their equipment.” The new 26-ton-per-hour recycling plant opened in September 2020. The Mazza Recycling plant features Lubo non-wrapping screens, a Lubo elliptical separator, Tomra optical sorters and numerous other components all intethe facility.” Rich Biondi, General Manager, YES Recycling Inc. to bale material. The Bollegraaf has brought a confidence with it that radiates through tions of throughput and uptime for our an HBC140 for fiber. Both exceed our expectagrated by Van Dyk Recycling Solutions. “The first time I saw a Bollegraaf operate, I was amazed by how fast the baling the facility.” Rich Biondi, General Manager, YES Recycling Inc. 50tph system.” Brian Dubis, MRF Operations tions of throughput and uptime for our “We’re thrilled with the plant,” James cycle was. In the 20-plus years that we have been running Bollegraaf balers, we have “The first time I saw a Bollegraaf operate, I was amazed by how fast the baling Manager, RIRRC50tph system.” Brian Dubis, MRF Operations Mazza says. “It will allow us cycle was. In the 20-plus years that we have been running Bollegraaf balers, we have Manager, RIRRC to offer our surrounding communities a far more economical recycling solution; we’re very VAN DYK RECYCLING SOLUTIONSexcited about that 360 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Norwalk, CT 06854 P: (203) 967-1100 | F: (203) 967-1199 info@vdrs.com | VDRS.com VAN DYK RECYCLING SOLUTIONS 360 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Norwalk, CT 06854 P: (203) 967-1100 | F: (203) 967-1199 opportunity. Recycling is the future, and we’re thrilled to info@vdrs.com | VDRS.com be part of it here in NEWS New Jersey.” NEWS