Recycling Product News November/December 2024, Volume 32, Number 7
FOOD WASTE INTO > 99.5% PURE
Horizontal depackers offer multiple bulk feed options to process a wide variety of materials and contaminants. Our robust design and unique screening chamber achieves the market’s highest purity organics.
SENNEBOGEN’S ELECTRIC EGREEN MACHINES HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO REDUCE COSTS UP TO 50% COMPARED TO DIESEL. ELECTRIC SERIES MACHINES CAN ALSO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT, OPERATING COSTS, AND DOWNTIME.
Qualified technical support network
Optional pony motor in counterweight
Electric motor - no battery
Proven cable system
Easy to service and support
FEDERAL GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR ELECTRIC MACHINES
A LONG WAY TOGETHER
WHEREVER YOU ARE, BKT IS WITH YOU
No matter how challenging your needs, BKT is with you offering a wide range of OTR tires specifically designed for the toughest operating conditions: from mining to construction sites.
Sturdy and resistant, reliable and safe, able to combine comfort and high performance. BKT is with you, even when work gets tough.
DESIGNED FOR TWO-RAM BALERS A C C E N T ® 4 7 0
S T RONG PE OPLE . S T RONG PR ODU C TS . S T RONG T IE S .
Accent W ire Tie is the largest supplier of baling wire and wire tier technology in the recycling and waste industry. Our leading line of bale packaging equipment includes the Accent 470® W ire Tier, featured on balers around the world and the Envirobale® bagging system for solid waste containment. Accent W ire Ties’ sales and service technicians teams have hands-on experience and stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends. Accent W ire Tie has forged the strongest ties in the industry since 1986.
FE A T U RE S & B E N EF IT S
Four-wheel drive design for exceptional performance and reliability
Pivot-out or removable parts cartridge cutting maintenance time from hours to minutes
No mechanical or hydraulic adjustments needed, allowing for trouble-free operation
Meets ANSI, CSA standards and is CE compliant
36 COVER STORY
CLOSE THE LOOP ON ORCHARD WASTE WITH HORIZONTAL GRINDERS
20
7 WAYS TO PREVENT RUST AND CORROSION ON SCRAP METAL DURING WINTER
30 MAKING SENSE OF THE 2025 RECYCLED PLASTICS MARKETPLACE
44
Q&A: LISA KAGAN ON CREATING TRADING TECH THAT PUTS HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS FIRST
FROM THE COVER
A Komptech Lacero 8010 horizontal grinder. Read more on page 36.
WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU
Do you have a story, equipment, or technology innovation, commentary, or news that our readers in the recycling industry should know about? Drop us a line any time.
Contact: Editor Slone Fox at sfox@baumpub.com or 604-291-9900 ext. 335
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Copyright 2024 Baum Publications Ltd. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publishers.
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The new model 4 E-Z log Baler is just what mid size scrap yards have been asking for! Priced right for any yard — small, mid size, or large!
Like the Model 3, the NEW Model 4 has no set up time and a very low cost to operate. The one man operations are all handled from the newly designed cab. With the 400º rotation crane and a reach of 27’ adding the continuous rotation grapple, it makes loading the larger chamber a breeze.
Taking your loose scrap to a highly sought after shreddable log.
— Cycles in under 2 minutes!
— Produces up to 70 tons per day.
— Fully portable in the closed position.
— New seat design for more operator comfort.
FROM THE EDITOR
WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THIS MAGAZINE ONCE YOU’VE FINISHED READING IT?
The recycling industry is all about giving materials a second (or third, or fourth. . .) life. But have you considered recycling the magazine you’re holding right now? Sure, we’d love for you to keep every issue of Recycling Product News forever, but when it’s time to let it go, there are plenty of ways to recycle or repurpose it.
A lot of what we cover, from emerging recycling technologies to evolving regulations, gains value the more it’s discussed and extends the impact of each article. After you’ve read through this issue, why not pass it along to a colleague, or leave it in the break room? This way, each issue serves its purpose several times over.
If you’re a fan of reducing paper consumption, consider checking out and subscribing to our digital edition. Not only does this reduce paper use, but you can access our entire archive of issues.
When it’s time to say goodbye to this issue, think about how you can repurpose it — perhaps the fruits of my labour will end up lining a litter box or serving as the foundation for a papier mâché volcano at your kid’s science fair. Even the simple act of using pages to jot down notes or reminders is a way to extend the magazine’s usefulness. It’s a tiny step, but every little bit counts when it comes to reducing waste and keeping materials in circulation.
Finally, when you’re absolutely sure this issue has served its purpose, it’s time to recycle it. The paper used to print this magazine is FSC-certified, which ensures that the forests producing this paper are managed in ways that support biodiversity, forest health, and local communities. After you’re done with an issue, you can place it in your paper recycling bin, where it will go through the standard recycling processes like sorting, pulping, and de-inking before it is turned into new paper products — maybe even another issue of Recycling Product News.
When it’s time to say goodbye to this issue, think about how you can repurpose it — perhaps the fruits of my labour will end up lining a litter box or serving as the foundation for a papier mâché volcano at your kid’s science fair.
Whether you’re recycling, repurposing, or sharing this magazine, you’re helping create a more sustainable and informed industry. It’s a simple process that allows the magazine’s materials to stay in use, and it’s what our industry is all about: turning something old into something new. Pass along an article, check out the digital edition, or pop your magazine in the recycling bin. You’ll be keeping the cycle going and driving sustainability in the process.
SLONE FOX Editor
RUMPKE OPENS NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST MRF, WILL ACHIEVE AN ANNUAL RECOVERY RATE OF 98 PERCENT
Rumpke Waste & Recycling has opened its $100 million, 226,000-square-foot MRF in Columbus, Ohio. Rumpke says the facility is North America’s largest and most technologically advanced.
The facility, which processes materials from 50 Ohio counties, fuels the local circular economy. More than 90 percent of the material processed at the Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center goes to end users in Ohio. The facility will increase Rumpke’s processing capability from 160,000 tons of material to 250,000 tons annually, increase the material processing speed to a minimum of 60 tons per hour versus 30 tons per hour, and will increase the material recovery rate to 98 percent.
Rumpke wanted the facility to be built with eventual upgrades in mind. Cranes inside the facility allow for equipment upgrades as future technology comes online and the composition of recycling material changes.
“The future of recycling is now. Our Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center ensures enough recycling capacity to serve the long-term needs as the region’s commercial development continues and the population tops an estimated three million,” says Andrew Rumpke, president of Rumpke Waste & Recycling.
The material recovery facility includes artificial intelligence, ballistic separators, trommel equipment, and 19 optic sorters. The recycling centre has three tipping floors totalling 48,000 square feet. The main 32,000-square-foot tipping area is for residential material, the second 11,000-squarefoot tipping floor is for commercial material, and a third 5,000-square-foot tipping floor is for material sampling and auditing which quickly provides municipal and commercial customers with a thorough evaluation of their recycling efforts, adds Rumpke.
NASA SEEKS SOLUTIONS FOR RECYCLING, PROCESSING, AND STORING WASTE IN OUTER SPACE
As NASA prepares for future human space missions, there is a need to consider how various waste streams, including solid waste, can be minimized — as well as how waste can be stored, processed, and recycled in a space environment so that little or no waste will need to be returned to Earth.
The LunaRecycle Challenge is a $3 million, two-track, twophase competition focused on the design and development of recycling solutions that can reduce solid waste and improve the sustainability of longer-term lunar missions.
“Operating sustainably is an important consideration for NASA as we make discoveries and conduct research both away from home and on Earth,” said Amy Kaminski, program executive for NASA’s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program. “With this challenge, we are seeking the public’s innovative approaches to waste management on the moon and aim to take lessons learned back to Earth for the benefit of all.”
NASA’s challenge is open for submissions of proposals for innovations in recycling material waste on deep space missions and novel solutions for processing inorganic waste streams like food packaging, discarded clothing, and science experiment materials.
While previous efforts focused on the reduction of trash mass and volume, this challenge will prioritize technologies for recycling waste into usable products needed for off-planet science and exploration activities. The challenge will incentivize the design and development of energy-efficient, low-mass, and low-impact recycling solutions that address physical waste streams and improve the sustainability of longer-duration lunar missions.
NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge will offer two competition tracks: a Prototype Build Track and a Digital Twin Track. The Prototype Build Track focuses on designing and developing hardware components and systems for recycling one or more solid waste streams on the lunar surface.
The Digital Twin Track focuses on designing a virtual replica of a complete system for recycling solid waste streams on the lunar surface and manufacturing end products.
HIGHEST ADJUSTED EBITDA MARGIN TO DATE
GFL Environmental’s financial results for the third quarter of 2024 show that the company’s adjusted EBITDA increased by 18.0 percent to $625.9 million, compared to $530.3 million in the third quarter of 2023. This marks the highest EBITDA margin in the company’s history.
Net income was $110.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to net income of $18.3 million in the third quarter of 2023.
In August, the company announced plans to further evaluate the potential sale of its environmental services business. Since September, GFL has received several expressions of interest from reputable potential buyers at valuations that should net a minimum of $6 billion in after-tax proceeds, says the company. GFL expects to repay at least $3.5 billion of debt, with the remainder available to be used for share buybacks and general corporate purposes.
AMP APPOINTS NEW CEO
AMP has appointed Tim Stuart as its new chief executive officer. Stuart replaces AMP founder Matanya Horowitz, who has transitioned to the role of chief technology officer.
A seasoned leader in the waste and recycling industry, Stuart joined AMP’s board as the company’s first independent director in March of this year. He most recently served as executive vice president and chief operating officer for Republic Services. In that role, Stuart spearheaded the company’s adoption, implementation, and scaling of new technologies while overseeing field operations, integrations, digital operations strategy and execution, and more.
PARTNERSHIP AIMS TO VERIFY RECYCLING REPORTING WITH BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY
With recycling claims being questioned, verifiable data is critical for companies reporting their recycling results. Circular Solutions Advisors (CSA) and Plastiks are combining their recycling expertise with innovative blockchain technology in an effort to demystify reporting with accurate, transparent results. They announced the partnership at the World Recycling Convention in Rome.
“The verification of plastic waste collection and recycling is crucial for ensuring transparency in sustainability efforts and the implementation of the circular economy through blockchain.
Breakers / Grapples / Pulverizers
Boom Systems / Plate Compactors
Shears / Multi Processors
Demolition Crushers
This guarantees transparency, trust, and prevents greenwashing,” explains André Vanyi-Robin, founder and CEO of Plastiks.
Tracing plastic throughout the recycling process has been a challenge for even the most diligent companies. The blockchain-based platform created by Plastiks enables businesses and factories to verify plastic recovery efforts by tracking and documenting collection to reuse.
People often associate blockchain technology with cryptocurrency, but this data-based technology has much broader applications. Blockchain technology securely records recycling transactions, ensuring the integrity of the publicly accessible data, and establishing a reliable foundation for reporting green claims to company stakeholders or for regulatory compliance.
SWANA’S NEW EVENT FOCUSES ON RETHINKING WASTE AS A RESOURCE
Next year, the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) will inaugurate a new event, RCon, to take place November 12 to 15, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio.
RCon events will advance SWANA’s principles of activating resource management and championing climate action. RCon aims to serve as the gathering place for leaders in waste and resource management.
AIRLINES CAN NOW RECYCLE SINGLE-USE ALUMINUM, PAPER, AND PLASTIC FROM INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO THE U.S.
Historically, recycling has not been permitted on international flights into the U.S., as the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has mandated the incineration or sterilization of all regulated garbage waste upon arrival.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is now participating in a new program enabling airlines to recycle single-use
aluminum, paper, and plastic products used during international flights arriving in the United States. This aligns with CBP’s Green Trade Strategy, which governs the agency’s efforts to advance environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and green innovation.
This new program will allow international airlines to recycle once appropriate safeguarding measures have been implemented, protecting American agriculture against foreign pests and pathogens while promoting the sustainability of the airline industry.
APHIS and CBP will evaluate and approve airlines prior to granting permission to recycle on their international aircraft. The new recycling program provides benefits ranging from resource conservation to energy savings.
With over 120 million international passengers arriving in the United States annually, it is estimated that incoming passengers will generate over 67 million pounds of recyclables on international flights. This collaboration will lead to a reduction in the amount of material requiring incineration or sterilization, thereby lowering energy consumption and further contributing to sustainable practices in international aviation.
HIGH
THROUGHPUT
REDWAVE and TOMRA Recycling will now offer each other’s complementary metal sorting technologies directly to recyclers. By facilitating access to the combined technologies in one go, the companies aim to address the growing demand for sustainable and efficient Zorba sorting processes, enhancing scrap metal recovery, and delivering high-quality end fractions. REDWAVE and TOMRA will continue to operate fully independently, focusing on their individual technology expertise and directly assisting customers with after-sales service
on the respective equipment.
The combination of the two companies’ advanced sorting technologies and REDWAVE’s plant-building expertise is anticipated to benefit a wide range of industries, from automotive to electronics.
“Both TOMRA Recycling and REDWAVE share the vision for a circular economy and net-zero emissions,” says Gerald Kreiner, CEO of REDWAVE’s parent company, BT-Systems. “While both companies remain independent and focused on their individual strengths, together we make it easier for our customers to efficiently upgrade scrap metal, achieve the highest quality standards, and promote sustainability and efficiency.”
FRONTLINE MACHINERY
MATERIAL
DISTRIBUTION NETWORK TO EASTERN CANADA
Frontline Machinery has expanded its distribution network to Eastern Canada. The company is now the authorized distributor of CBI grinders and chippers in Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. CBI grinders and chippers feature up-to-date technology to process wood, green waste, organic, and C&D materials for biomass production.
ment and verification that recycled content (plastic pellets or flake) originates from post-consumer sources, such as the
plastic packaging commonly recycled by U.S. households. Since its launch in 2021, the certification has been awarded to more than 35 plastic recyclers, covering an estimated 30 percent or more of the post-consumer PET, PP, HDPE, and LDPE/LLDPE produced in North America.
The program’s updates aim to expand its reach and bring greater stability to the PCR market.
Based on ISO Chain-of-Custody and Traceability standards, including requirements for elements of management systems to be in place and traceability through sales of products, the program covers all major types of plastic resin and can be used in any application of recycled content.
RECIPIENT
Robin Wiener, president of the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), is the recipient of the first Great Lakes Regional L.A.K.E.S Award. This annual award was created to recognize a ReMA leader who has positively impacted their communities. Robin Weiner is recognized for fostering knowledge and leading with integrity while promoting the recycled materials industry.
SPOTLIGHT
INTRODUCTIONS & UPDATES
MDS MOBILE SCRAP SCREEN
MDS’s SCRAPMASTER 400 is designed specifically to handle metal and other tough materials in the scrap and metals recycling industry. The SCRAPMASTER 400’s design builds upon the foundation of the effective M412: a compact, versatile machine for screening a range of materials, from lightweight to hefty demolition waste. Features of the SCRAPMASTER 400 include a robust, wear-resistant push feeder capable of withstanding heavy, abrasive materials, and a heavy-duty drum frame with multiple screen options, ranging from 25 to 150 millimetres (one to six inches). An apron-style conveyor on the oversized material output provides enhanced durability in scrap applications.
TOMRA PET CLEANER
TOMRA Recycling’s GAINnext deep-learning-based AI ecosystem now includes a PET cleaner application that leverages deep-learning technology to recognize hard-to-classify objects, reducing the need for manual sorting. GAINnext PET Cleaner significantly enhances the sorting performance of transparent and coloured PET by removing polyester textile waste. It boosts the hit rate for difficult-to-eject and multilayer foils to deliver higher-purity PET fractions. The flexible system allows recyclers to select opaque colours, opaque white, PET blue, light blue, or transparent for the classification stream, enabling recyclers to instantly recover valuable light blue and transparent PET materials from the sorting line.
Machinex SCREW SCREEN
Machinex’s MACH Screw Screen is engineered to optimize sorting efficiency and works with trommels to expand the company’s mechanical presort solutions for MRFs. The MACH Screw Screen is designed to separate materials by size, whether at presort or screening (OCC and scalping). Its primary function is to reduce the tonnage sent to manual presort while also enhancing worker safety by removing small hazardous materials. The independent angle adjustments on both decks (the tilt and the roll of the screws) is patent-pending. The MACH Screw Screen is adapted for single-stream, mixed-waste processing, and industrial, commercial, and institutional systems.
Mobile scrap screen
PET cleaner
Screw screen
Terex Recycling Systems
DRUM SCREEN
Terex Recycling Systems’ TSD-280 drum screen is designed for heavy-duty processing, improving recycling operations by pre-sorting bulky construction and industrial waste and providing a steady, efficient flow of materials. Capable of handling raw, unsorted C&D and C&I waste of all sizes, the TSD-280’s ability to efficiently separate bulky materials from the waste stream aims to eliminate the need for additional manual sorting. This pre-sorting can improve overall sorting efficiency by preventing jams and providing a more consistent flow of material, reducing downtime and increasing productivity. With less extensive pre-sorting, the TSD-280 can provide higher capacity and improved material purity.
RUBBLE MASTER MOBILE JAW CRUSHER
RUBBLE MASTER’s RM J110X mobile jaw crusher offers a high throughput of up to 450 tph and is engineered for rugged environments and handling hard, abrasive materials. It features a modular design with flexible power options. Users can choose between a diesel-hydraulic or hybrid drive for fuel efficiency. The machine’s large feed opening and robust build allow it to efficiently process substantial materials, making it ideal for mining and heavy recycling. The RM J110X’s compact design aids in transport and manoeuvrability, giving operators greater flexibility in both urban and remote locations.
Drum screen
Mobile jaw crusher
7 WAYS TO PREVENT RUST AND CORROSION ON SCRAP METAL DURING WINTER
SIMPLE STRATEGIES FOR KEEPING SCRAP METAL CLEAN AND DRY IN WET WEATHER
BY SLONE FOX, EDITOR
Winter weather poses significant challenges for scrapyards —primarily the rust and corrosion of scrap metal. Exposure to moisture, freezing temperatures, and changing weather accelerates these issues, weakening the structural integrity of metals and requiring more extensive cleaning, which can quickly drive up costs and lower profitability.
Damaged metals not only lose their market value, but also require additional processing to meet buyer specifications. This
extra work increases labour costs, eating into profits. Heavily corroded metals can even be rejected by mills or buyers, resulting in lost revenue and wasted material for recyclers.
To combat these challenges, proper care and maintenance during the cold, wet months are essential. Taking proactive steps to protect scrap can help recyclers preserve metal quality, maintain its resale value, and minimize processing costs. Here are seven strategies to help safeguard your scrap metal through the winter season.
1
INVEST IN PROPER STORAGE SOLUTIONS
Proper storage is the first line of defense against rust and corrosion in the winter. Scrap metal left exposed to snow, rain, and ice is at risk of oxidizing, which can quickly reduce its value. An easy solution is to store materials in enclosed buildings or under other covered structures.
Another simple best practice is to keep scrap off of the ground by using platforms or wooden pallets. This prevents water from pooling underneath the metals, especially during heavy rainfall or when snow begins to melt. This also makes operations more efficient, since sorting and processing dry, corrosion-free scrap is substantially faster and easier than dealing with rusted and frozen scrap.
2
SORT METALS PROPERLY
Separating ferrous and non-ferrous metals can prevent unnecessary damage during
3
winter storage. Ferrous metals like iron and steel are prone to rust, while non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and copper are less reactive but can still corrode in wet conditions. Mixing these metals can speed up corrosion in ferrous metals and may also result in corrosion when moisture causes a reaction between dissimilar metals. Properly separating metals not only protects their value, but also makes downstream processing more efficient.
USE RUST-RESISTANT COATINGS
Applying protective coatings is an effective way to protect scrap metal from rust and corrosion. These coatings create a barrier between the metal and moisture, reducing the risk of oxidation and preserving material quality. Rust inhibitors, like anti-corrosion sprays, oils, or waxes, offer a convenient (but temporary) solution, especially during storage or transportation.
Winter weather can affect machinery, so it’s important to ensure equipment is free from moisture to prevent downtime.
Separating ferrous and nonferrous metals can prevent unnecessary damage during winter storage.
COVER METAL WITH TARPS
4 5
If covered storage isn’t available, heavy-duty tarps can act as an alternative for protecting scrap metal from the elements. Choose tarps made from durable, waterproof materials like polyethylene or UV-resistant canvas. Tarps should be tightly fastened using bungee cords, ratchet straps, or weights to keep them in place and prevent wind from exposing the scrap. While it’s not a permanent solution, tarps can significantly reduce rust and corrosion when indoor storage is limited.
Damaged metals not only lose their market value, but also require additional processing to meet buyer specifications. This extra work increases labour costs, eating into profits.
6
MONITOR AND MANAGE MOISTURE
In enclosed spaces, dehumidifiers are effective for controlling humidity and minimizing the risk of moisture-related damage. For open spaces, moisture-absorbing products like dehumidifier bags and desiccants can be placed near metal piles to help reduce humidity in the air. Proper ventilation is also crucial — fans can improve airflow, preventing moisture buildup.
PERFORM REGULAR INSPECTIONS AND MAINTENANCE
By frequently checking scrap metal inventory and storage areas, scrapyards can catch early signs of issues like rust spots, tarp damage, or pooling water. Setting up a consistent inspection schedule ensures that rust, moisture, and storage conditions are closely monitored. If rust is detected, it should be treated immediately to prevent further damage, using tools like wire brushes, rust removers, or
sanders, and then reapplying protec tive coatings. Winter weather can also affect the machinery used to handle scrap, so it’s important to winterize equipment like material handlers and shredders, ensuring they are free from moisture to prevent downtime.
EDUCATE EMPLOYEES ON BEST PRACTICES
Training employees on winter-specific maintenance and storage techniques is vital to reducing rust and corrosion risks. Holding meetings or handing out guides on proper metal handling and storage practices ensures that everyone is on the same page when it comes to keeping metals dry and clean during processing. Assigning specific roles, such as apply ing coatings, securing tarps, or monitor ing moisture levels, helps simplify the process. By including staff in the rust and corrosion prevention process, scra pyards can improve overall operational efficiency. RPN
Training employees on winterspecific maintenance and storage techniques is vital to reducing rust and corrosion.
The vital role of aluminum in achieving carbon neutrality goals
FROM THE RECYCLING PROCESS TO THE TECHNOLOGIES SUPPORTING IT, ALUMINUM RECYCLING OFFERS SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
As many countries and regions strive to fulfill their pledges of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, the role of recycling in meeting these targets is vital. Among the materials that can be sustainably repurposed, aluminum is a particularly valuable resource. Its recycling process offers a significant reduction in energy consumption compared to primary production, leading to substantial cuts in carbon emissions.
Aluminum exists in two primary forms: cast and wrought. Cast aluminum is characterized by its high silicon content, while wrought aluminum contains minimal silicon. When cast and wrought aluminum are combined, the resulting alloy is primarily used in the production of cast aluminum because there isn’t a straightforward or widely used method to completely remove silicon. This process — sometimes called “downcycling” — results in different products than those present in the scrap mix.
POST-CONSUMER VS. POSTPRODUCTION SCRAP
The source of aluminum significantly impacts its composition. Scrap aluminum feedstock can be categorized into two main types: post-production and post-consumer. These two categories, though both crucial to sustainable practices, differ significantly in their origins and characteristics.
Post-production scrap, as the name suggests, is generated during the manufacturing process itself. It often arises as byproducts or offcuts in the production of industrial goods such as automobiles, construction materials, and appliances. This type of scrap is typically in a relatively pure state, having not yet been exposed to general usage.
Conversely, post-consumer scrap originates from the end of a product’s life cycle. It is generated by consumers who have used aluminum-based products and have subsequently discarded them. This type of scrap can come from a variety of sources, including end-of-life vehicles, households, businesses, and public spaces. Unlike post-production scrap, post-consumer scrap is often contaminated with various substances, such as food residues, dirt, and other debris.
Recognizing these differences in the origins of the scrap allows recyclers to tailor their sorting and processing techniques accordingly, ensuring that the recycled aluminum meets the required standards for various applications.
THE CHALLENGES OF ALUMINUM RECYCLING
A primary obstacle in aluminum recycling is the difficulty of separating it from other metals once it has been combined in alloys. Given the vast array of aluminum alloys — with hundreds of different cast and wrought varieties — it is vital to keep the scrap aluminum close to its original composition, or at least to the desired composition of the final product.
Different aluminum alloys possess distinct properties, such as strength, corrosion resistance, and malleability. By identifying the specific alloy of the aluminum being recycled, recyclers can optimize the recycling process to preserve these valuable characteristics and ensure that material is processed efficiently and cost-effectively.
This knowledge enables reprocessors to produce recycled aluminum that is equivalent in quality and performance to
primary aluminum, expanding its potential applications and increasing its market value.
Understanding the source of aluminum is crucial for maximizing recycling efficiency. By identifying potential contaminants or impurities, recyclers can implement targeted cleaning and sorting methods to remove these unwanted materials. This not only improves the quality of the recycled aluminum, but also reduces energy consumption and minimizes waste.
THE POWER OF PRECISION SORTING
Advanced metal sorting solutions transform scrap into valuable resources. These sophisticated systems leverage cutting-edge technologies, such as X-ray Transmission (XRT) — a powerful tool used for sorting and analyzing materials based on their atomic density — and artificial intelligence (AI) to accurately identify and separate various metals, ensuring high-purity outputs.
This precision sorting enables recycled aluminum to be used as a direct substitute for virgin material in various industries. From beverage cans to construction materials and automotive components, recycled aluminum can be seamlessly integrated
into manufacturing processes without compromising product quality or performance.
This process not only conserves valuable resources, but also reduces the environmental impact associated with aluminum production.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
The growing demand for recycled aluminum is being driven by the shift toward lighter, more sustainable products, particularly in the automotive and construction industries. The shift to electric vehicles has further accelerated the demand for recycled aluminum.
Those core industries where aluminum is widely used — such as automotive, transportation, and construction — have a unique opportunity to lead the transition to a circular economy, minimizing environmental impact and accelerating progress toward carbon neutrality.
The future of aluminum recycling lies not only in recycling production scrap, but also in substituting primary raw materials with secondary scrap. This will require significant continued advancements in processing technologies, particularly in alloy sorting.
TOMRA’s AUTOSORT PULSE uses LIBS technology to analyze the composition of metals.
THE MODULAR MACHINE CAN BE INSTALLED AND COMMISSIONED IN UNDER A MONTH
Lindemann Metal Recycling’s mid-size shredder, the TXS 69x90, is aimed at customers looking for efficient solutions with a strong performance-to-cost ratio. Offering the TXS 69x90 in a standardized, modular format — complete with downstream and dedusting systems — ensures a cost-effective design.
The shredder delivers a power rating of between 1,000 and 2,500 horsepower and can process up to 60 tons of mixed scrap
or car bodies per hour. Numerous upgrade options, including a variable frequency drive, Lindemann’s Shredder Drive Assistant, and the intelligent data extraction system InDEx further enhance system performance.
The TXS 69x90’s modular design includes pre-assembled hydraulic and electrical controls delivered in containers, ready for easy plug-and-play installation. This eliminates the need for additional buildings and enables the shredder to be installed and commissioned in under a month.
ENERGY EFFICIENT AND LOW MAINTENANCE
The TXS 69x90 incorporates energy-efficient components and uses the same high-quality drive systems as Lindemann’s premium models. Key features include a 40-degree inclined feed chute, twin-drive roller technology with two hydraulic motors, a three-part anvil, a two-piece impact wall, and a single-piece rear wall with water injection openings. The adjustable ejection flap controls production volume and quality.
MEETING GLOBAL DEMAND
“The TXS 69x90 addresses the growing global demand in the recycling industry,” says Alexander Zinn, global sales director at Lindemann. “As metal recycling continues to expand, driven by economic factors, regulatory pressures, and the increasing focus on sustainability, there is a clear need for adaptable and efficient solutions. The TXS 69x90, with its modular plug-andplay design, meets these requirements by offering a high-quality, safe, and efficient shredder that can be quickly installed and operational. This flexibility makes it an ideal choice for customers facing rapidly evolving market conditions.”
The single-piece rear wall features water injection openings.
As metal recycling continues to expand, driven by economic factors, regulatory pressures, and the increasing focus on sustainability, there is a clear need for adaptable and efficient solutions.
Alexander Zinn Global Sales Director, Lindemann
The shredder can process up to 60 tons of mixed scrap per hour.
LINDNER
KOMET
SINGLE-SHAFT SECONDARY SHREDDER
Shredders are essential for transforming diverse waste materials into reusable resources and supporting recycling efforts across municipal, industrial, and commercial sectors. Recent advancements focus on reliability, safety, and adaptability, reflecting a push to maximize throughput while ensuring precision and safety. Fire prevention, automated cooling, and optimized power systems are now central features as recycling facilities increasingly require uninterrupted operations.
The Lindner Komet is representative of these industry trends, designed for single-shaft shredding across varied materials and applications. With innovations like adjustable particle sizing and advanced cooling, it’s well-suited for producing secondary raw fuel (SRF) from complex waste streams. These features address common challenges, allowing for steady, controlled output while prioritizing safety and efficiency. As the industry advances, shredders like the Komet highlight a broader shift toward durable, integrated systems that enhance recycling capabilities while meeting stringent safety and environmental standards.
ROTOR COOLING SYSTEM FIRE PREVENTION
Lindner’s Fire Prevention System (FPS) is a proactive safety measure that integrates directly onto the discharge conveyor, automatically detecting and cooling overheated materials to prevent possible sources of fire. This solution features advanced infrared sensors that monitor the material stream for potential fire hazards and adapt the cooling process based on real-time risks. Its modular design and high-temperature insulation protect against frequent fire sources in recycling facilities. This system allows operators to prioritize safety without compromising throughput or efficiency.
The Komet’s rotor cooling system is engineered to manage temperature-sensitive materials effectively, preventing issues like clumping or melting that can impact material flow and quality. Equipped with a built-in cooling aggregate and strategically designed water supply, the system maintains optimal operating temperatures, making it ideal for shredding plastics and films. By keeping temperatures stable, the Komet ensures a smooth shredding process and a high-quality final product, even when processing challenging materials.
The Lindner Komet.
KNIFE HOLDER CONCEPT
The Komet shredder’s screw-on knife holder concept enables a knife holder to be replaced in just 15 minutes without welding. The result is reduced maintenance costs, shorter downtimes, and improved overall efficiency. The knife holder’s secure fit and optimal cutting edge ensure consistent particle size. Adaptable to both new and used machines in the Komet series, the system also reduces storage costs with its standardized elements, streamlining the entire maintenance process.
The screw-on knife holder concept.
MAKING SENSE OF THE 2025 RECYCLED PLASTICS MARKETPLACE
WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE RECYCLED PLASTICS INDUSTRY AS THE NEW YEAR GETS UNDERWAY
BY EMILY FRIEDMAN
This has once again been a volatile year for the broader business world as U.S. organizations tried to navigate numerous disruptions throughout 2024, ranging from dock strikes to geopolitical uncertainty. The recycled plastics industry was no different.
Recycled plastics have quietly emerged as one of the commodities areas to watch during 2024. While many hoped for an industry-wide stabilization or uptick to occur following the COVID-19 pandemic and its related supply chain hurdles, 2024 proved to be much more of a mixed bag with some grades of recycled plastic seeing a rebound, while many others have continued to struggle. Moreover, those that have seen an upturn have faced stiff headwinds in the form of import competition, among other factors.
This has set the stage for a very interesting 2025 for the recycled plastics space. With that in mind, here are some of the most pressing questions that surround the recycled plastics industry as the new year gets underway.
HOW WILL LOCAL R-PET SUPPLY CATCH UP WITH DEMAND?
As brands continue to double down on voluntary recycled material usage commitments and more ambitious sustainability regulation continues to be rolled out, demand for recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) in the U.S. continues to grow. However, plastics producers continue to muddle through a continuous supply/demand mismatch.
Domestic supply — which was already struggling to keep up — fell even further behind in mid- and late-2024 as bottled beverage purchases shrunk as consumers battled inflationary conditions. This has fuelled strong import numbers throughout the year. For example, the U.S. imported over 57,000 tonnes of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) scrap in Q2 2024 alone.
As supply issues look likely to persist, the recycled plastics industry will continue to be dogged by shortages through much of 2025, and stakeholders will have to continue to grapple with how to exactly close the gap.
To make matters worse, while imports have helped to plug the gap a bit, the potential January resumption of the Q4 dockworkers strike that briefly derailed U.S. supply chains means supply issues could become significantly worse in early 2025 as companies seek to restock following the end of the year.
WILL THE R-PE MARKET SEE MORE COLLECTIVE STABILITY?
Recycled polyethylene (R-PE) markets have also seen inconsistent growth. Driven by demand from the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry, sustainability-driven grades like food-grade, natural plastics will continue to see strong demand to kick off the year.
Spurred on by a lack of recycled plastic feedstock, these grades of post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin continue to push double-digit premiums to virgin. However, cost-sensitive grades — like post-industrial, mixed-coloured resins — have faced stiff competition from more cost-friendly virgin plastics. These grades, which are typically utilized in automotive, construction, and other sectors that have faced challenging economic times, have remained relatively flat as durable goods companies remain cost-conscious in the face of economic uncertainty.
Markets such as packaging are heavily driven by brand sustainability targets and regulations, while other markets, such as construction, mostly purchase on cost saving against virgin. However, should positive economic conditions take hold in 2025, these grades could see a boost as well.
HOW WILL U.S. RECYCLERS COPE WITH MEDIUM-TERM DEMAND UNCERTAINTY?
A key priority for the recycled plastics community — particularly U.S. R-PET sellers — in 2025 will be determining exactly what demand looks like for 2026 and beyond. While demand has increased in the U.S. in the lead up to 2025, U.S. recyclers continue to face competition from import substitution as well as premium price pressure.
At the same time, many brands have yet to announce sustainability commitments for the next decade and beyond. It is possible that we could see demand fall off if overall economic conditions force brands to slow their sustainability pushes.
This confluence of factors has already seen U.S. recyclers quietly hedge against these challenges and double down on their messaging to make US R-PET the raw material of choice.
For example, U.S. recyclers underline the benefits of domestic R-PET on meeting local circularity goals while promoting the consistency of domestic R-PET in comparison to imported material, which can upend U.S. converter operations.
MOVING FORWARD
Even with all of the uncertainty in 2024, 2025 has the potential to be just as unpredictable for the U.S. recycled plastics industry. Economic signals are cause for optimism as the Federal Reserve lowers rates and inflation eases.
Although automotive sales will likely remain flat, we forecast
While many hoped for an industrywide stabilization or uptick to occur following the COVID-19 pandemic and its related supply chain hurdles, 2024 proved to be much more of a mixed bag with some grades of recycled plastic seeing a rebound, while many others have continued to struggle.
U.S. housing starts to improve significantly, from about 1.37 million to 1.43 million in 2025. With a new administration entering the White House and an economy that is still looking to officially complete its “soft landing,” recycled plastics decision-makers will have no shortage of priorities and hot-button issues to contend with as they look to drive success in the new year.
EMILY FRIEDMAN is the recycled plastics senior editor at Independent Commodity Intelligence Services.
Some grades of recycled plastic saw a rebound in 2024, while many others continued to struggle.
PAPER REMAINS
ONE OF THE MOST RECYCLED MATERIALS IN THE U.S.
THE INDUSTRY RECYCLES NEARLY 60 PERCENT MORE PAPER TODAY THAN IT DID IN 1990
Anew report from the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) shows that 65–69 percent of paper available for recovery in the United States was recycled in 2023. The 2023 paper recycling rate is the first to use AF&PA’s updated methodology, which uses extensive industry data, subject matter expertise, and detailed U.S. trade data.
The 2023 calculations show that paper remains one of the most highly recycled materials in the U.S., with the industry recycling nearly 60 percent more paper today than it did in 1990 when initial recycling rate goals were established.
“No matter how you measure it, paper recycling is an environmental success story,” says AF&PA president and CEO Heidi Brock. “We are a fact-based, data-driven organization, and our updated recycling rate methodology represents the most thorough recycling rate possible using all currently available data. This updated methodology, which calculates the amount of paper recycled as a share of the amount of all paper for recovery, reflects our commitment to utilize the best data available to
support industry investments, and guide our efforts to recover and recycle more paper and paper packaging products.”
CARDBOARD RECYCLING RATES
In 2023, the recycling rate for cardboard was 71–76 percent. The rate incorporates all primary collection channels — including industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential — combined with a more extensive analysis of U.S. trade data.
UPDATED METHODOLOGY
To reflect continuously evolving global economic, supply chain, and trade flows, AF&PA updated its recycling rate methodology for estimating product packaging imports/exports as part of the cardboard recycling rate calculations, resulting in the most thorough and fact-based recycling rate possible with currently available data.
Through the updated methodology, AF&PA has:
• Improved estimates of net imported product packaging using more detailed trade data and better estimates of packaging dimensions based on industry data and expertise.
• Deducted an estimate of materials in recovered paper bales that are not used in manufacturing (such as paper not suitable for use in the specific grade, non-paper materials, and net moisture).
• Made adjustments for cardboard and other paper-based consumer packaging in different commodity bales as part of the cardboard recycling rate calculation.
• Provided rates as a range to acknowledge aspects of the calculations are based on estimates.
• Enlisted an independent, third-party reviewer to examine methodology and findings to ensure their rigour and validity as a process step.
• Invested in the paper industry.
Since 2019, the industry has announced or is expected to complete projects by 2025 that will use more than nine million tons of recycled paper. These projects include building new mills, converting or expanding existing mills, and updating machinery and equipment.
“This updated methodology will direct our industry’s efforts to capture even more paper for use in manufacturing new products,” says Brock. “We look forward to working with key decision makers and stakeholders to develop policies that support this goal and improve education about recycling best practices to increase consumer participation.”
The 2023 calculations show that paper remains one of the most highly recycled materials in the U.S., with the industry recycling nearly 60 percent more paper today than it did in 1990 when initial recycling rate goals were established.
A year-to-year comparison of recovered paper export trends in the U.S. and Asia
CURRENT FACTORS SHOW A REVERSAL OF THE EXPORT FORECAST FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR
BY HUBAN KASIMI
The U.S.’ total recovered paper exports between January and September 2024 stood at 9.03 million metric tons (9.95 million net tons), down 7 percent annually from 9.71 million mt, according to Census Bureau data.
Monthly shipments from the West Coast fell 29.2 percent to 58,173 mt in September from 82,138 mt in August 2024. Volumes from the East Coast in this period dropped 21.2 percent to 18,568 mt compared with 23,578 mt.
Fewer cargoes, mainly out of the larger New York and Los Angeles ports, also reflect a $5-7/nt freight alongside ship weekly average decline in Davis Index’s export prices of Baled #11 Old Corrugated Containers (OCC) and Baled #12 Double Sorted Old Corrugated (DS OCC).
The data shows consistently lower shipments since the beginning of this year. Corrugated grades retained a fairly rangebound trend for exports at about $169–178/nt until May, with the year’s high reaching $192–197/nt freight alongside ship in New York and Los Angeles, respectively, on May 16. A steady decline became apparent after early June; since then, prices and tonnages have weakened (see Figure 1).
The outlook for Q1 2025 appears bearish. Tonnages may not dwindle further — however, a sudden improvement is unlikely in the next few months. Prices are subdued at present but are far from reaching a bottom until the end of 2024.
Demand
appears to have softened considerably, and a few buyers deem current prices unviable even though they are at their lowest.
Although this fading out appears moderate, tonnage movements tell a different story. A closer look reveals that shipments to two of Asia’s biggest recovered paper buyers decelerated this year.
INDIA
The country remains one of the top buyers of export-grade recycled fibre from the U.S.; however, volumes in the first nine months of the year were down 17 percent annually to 1.61 million mt from 1.93 million mt. These tonnages are also 40 percent lower than 2.7 million mt between January and September 2022.
India’s imports of the material from the U.S. reached 179,085 mt in September 2024, 17 percent lower than 223,175 mt during the same month of 2023. Shipments were down 11 percent or about 22,000 mt against 201,420 mt in August 2024 and around 3 percent more than 173,243 mt this January.
The weekly Davis Indexes for OCC and DSOCC cost and freight in India
Figure 1 (Source: Davis Index).
Davis Index data shows consistently lower shipments since the beginning of this year.
have gradually fallen since August. Even though there was a $5–10/mt uptick in mid-September, the index prices slipped nearly $12–20/mt on October 10, 2024.
INDONESIA
Indonesia’s imports of recycled fibre had a slow start to the year. According to the Asian nation’s Customs data, total inbound shipments of the material between January and September were 2.13 million mt. This translates to an annual fall of 19 percent from 2.62 million mt in the prior-year period. Shipments during the first nine months of this year were also 9.7 percent lower than 2.36 million mt imported in the same time frame of 2022.
Volumes from the U.S. were 248,592 mt from January to September, down 17 percent against 297,805 mt in the same period of 2023. During the same period in 2022, Indonesia’s recovered paper imports from the U.S. were 363,653 mt, which means January to September 2024 volumes were 31 percent lower than two years ago.
The country has consistently reduced its volumes from some of its top sup-
pliers other than the U.S. For instance, shipments from the UK in the first nine months of 2024 were 207,948 mt, 39 percent less annually from 341,028 mt.
Total shipments of recovered paper into Indonesia during September 2024 were 191,543 mt, a 27 percent annual drop from 262,009 mt and a 13 percent sequential decrease against 219,705 mt. During the review month, the supply of recycled fibre from the U.S. reached 25,348 mt. This volume was 36 percent lower than 39,794 mt in September 2023 and down 31 percent from 36,688 mt in August 2024.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
Market participants have cited several reasons for the gradual downtrend. The primary influencer is a slowdown in the recovered paper industry in the U.S. and Asia. Demand appears to have softened considerably, and a few buyers deem current prices unviable even though they are at their lowest.
It is also essential to consider the extended downtime that mills across both regions took earlier in the year.
Moreover, several sites have closed permanently or are shut down for upgrades. Another important factor is that Asian importers raised material quality concerns. This led to more order cutbacks, especially for grades like Baled #54 Mixed Paper (MP).
OUTLOOK
An overall bearish sentiment that took hold after the year’s first half will likely remain for the near term. The upcoming change in the U.S. government could also impact recycled fibre exports. However, any real impact will emerge only after Q1 2025.
In terms of demand, a recovery could be slower than expected. What is notable is that all the existing factors in play are a complete reversal of the strongly optimistic export outlook that was forecast at the beginning of 2024.
KASIMI is the recycled materials editor at Davis Index and can be reached at huban.kasimi@ davisindex.com.
CLOSE THE LOOP ON ORCHARD WASTE WITH HORIZONTAL GRINDERS
TREE MULCH FROM RECYCLED ORCHARDS ENHANCES SOIL FOR NEW GROWTH
Agriculture is an industry in constant evolution, continually exploring new methods to enhance profitability and sustainability. As farmers seek to adopt more eco-friendly practices, whole orchard recycling (WOR) stands out as a promising solution that supports both economic viability and environmental responsibility.
Whole orchard recycling has emerged as a vital and transformative practice that involves the complete removal of entire orchards once they reach the end of their productive life and grinding the trees into mulch that is then reintroduced back into the orchard soil. This process is not merely about clearing old trees; it involves transforming them into valuable resources that can significantly enhance the quality of the soil and the overall orchard ecosystem.
THE PRIMARY STEPS IN WOR
Together, these steps not only dispose of the old trees sustainably, but also enrich the soil with valuable organic matter for future orchard production.
Clearing This is the initial stage where the trees are removed from the ground. It often involves heavy machinery to uproot the trees and prepare them for subsequent recycling processes.
Grinding Once the trees are cleared, they are processed through high-speed grinding machines, usually horizontal grinders. This process converts the tree trunks and branches into smaller, manageable pieces.
Incorporation into soil The final stage involves spreading the mulched wood across the orchard floors and incorporating it back into the soil.
METHODS OF ORCHARD RECYCLING
Chipping and grinding are two effective methods for processing orchard waste, each with its own characteristics.
Chipping involves using a chipper machine to create larger-sized wood chips from tree debris. While these chips decompose slowly, they can enhance soil structure and moisture
ing soil quality and promoting healthier orchards.
Overall, while both chipping and grinding contribute to effective orchard waste recycling, grinding offers more control over particle size, which can lead to more immediate benefits for soil health and fertility.
BEST PRACTICES
To maximize the benefits of whole orchard recycling, it is essential to follow best practices and use the appropriate equipment and techniques.
Proper planning and preparation are crucial for successful orchard recycling. This process begins with a thorough assessment of the orchard’s condition, which involves evaluating factors such as tree health, soil quality, and pest presence. Following this assessment, it’s essential to select the optimal time for clearing, typically aligning with seasonal changes to minimize disruption to local wildlife and maximize efficiency. Additionally, determining the best recycling methods tailored
considerations when selecting equipment include:
Capacity and size It’s crucial to ensure that the equipment is appropriately sized and has the capacity to handle the volume of trees and debris generated during the clearing process efficiently. This includes considering the maximum load it can bear and its ability to manoeuvre in various terrains, which will ultimately impact the effectiveness and speed of the clearing operation. The Komptech Lacero 8010 horizontal grinder is a viable option to consider because of its powerful 812-hp CAT diesel engine that delivers high-volume production with maximum mobility for wood waste, green waste, biomass, mulch, and organic waste operations.
Efficiency When selecting high-speed grinding equipment, prioritize models that can complete the tough tasks of WOR quickly and effectively. This will significantly reduce labour costs and operational downtime, ultimately maximizing productivity. Additionally, choose equipment that is energy efficient and designed to minimize noise and other emissions.
To
ensure maximum uptime and reliability of your equipment, it is essential to prioritize equipment brands and partners that offer robust technical support capabilities. Look for manufacturers or suppliers that provide comprehensive service agreements, timely maintenance, and readily available parts.
This not only contributes to a healthier environment, but also enhances working conditions for operators.
Technical support To ensure maximum uptime and reliability of your equipment, it is essential to prioritize equipment brands and partners that offer robust technical support capabilities. Look for manufacturers or suppliers
The Komptech Lacero 8010 horizontal grinder offers mobility for wood waste, green waste, biomass, mulch, and organic waste operations.
that provide comprehensive service agreements, timely maintenance, and readily available parts. This will help to minimize disruptions and keep your operations running smoothly, ensuring that any issues can be resolved quickly without causing significant delays.
USING HORIZONTAL GRINDERS FOR WOR
Horizontal grinding machines play a pivotal role in the success of whole orchard recycling. These machines are designed to efficiently process large volumes of orchard waste, transforming trees and green waste debris into valuable resources for soil enrichment.
Horizontal grinders offer several advantages that make them ideal for orchard recycling:
High throughput These machines can process large volumes of material quickly, reducing the time and labour required for recycling.
Versatility Horizontal grinders can handle various types of orchard waste, including whole trees, branches, and stumps, making them suitable for diverse recycling needs.
Efficient size reduction They are designed to effectively reduce the size of materials, producing uniform wood chips or mulch that can be easily incorporated into the soil, further enhancing the breakdown of biomass.
Energy efficiency Modern horizontal grinders are engineered for energy efficiency, minimizing fuel consumption and reducing operational costs.
TIMING AND EXECUTION
Timing is essential in the process of orchard recycling. It is crucial to plan the recycling activities to coincide with the optimal time for soil incorporation and crop planting, as this can significantly enhance soil health and crop productivity. Before initiating the recycling process, assess the soil conditions and the best periods for planting specific crops. Execute each step of the process methodically, ensuring that every stage is completed thoroughly and efficiently. This includes removing old trees, recycling organic matter, and preparing the soil to create a nutrient-rich environment.
ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE FARMING
Whole orchard recycling represents a significant advancement in sustainable farming practices. By recycling old orchards, soil health can improve, biodiversity can be enhanced, and economic benefits can be achieved. Implementing WOR requires careful planning, the right equipment, and adherence to best practices.
Horizontal grinding machines, such as Viably’s Komptech Lacero 8010 horizontal grinder, play a crucial role in WOR’s success by efficiently processing orchard waste and transforming it into valuable resources. For orchard owners and agricultural growers, adopting whole orchard recycling is not only a step toward sustainability, but also a strategic move to enhance profitability and contribute to a healthier environment.
Grinding can produce fine material with a more consistent output size than chipping.
Serious Grinding Built For North America
The Komptech Lacero 8010 is a powerful, high-speed, horizontal grinder purpose-engineered for the demanding North American wood waste, biomass, mulch, orchard/land clearing, and organics markets.
/ Feed large waste volumes into the versatile 7'10" open-front hopper
/ Leverage all-day grinding with the huge 41" diameter downswing drum / Track chassis with optional 3-axle dolly for quick on-road transport
TIGERCAT GRINDERS HELP RECYCLERS OVERCOME THE DAILY GRIND
4 JAYS LAND SERVICES
PURCHASES TIGERCAT 6900 GRINDERS FOR ORGANIC MATERIAL PROCESSING
Keith and Glen Jung are brothers and the owners of 4 Jays Recycling C&D Landfill and 4 Jays Land Services, based in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Their parents, Ed and Marion, started the land clearing business in 1983 and the two brothers purchased the company in 2004, having worked alongside their father since they were teenagers.
Prior to 1983, Ed was a homebuilder, but high interest rates and a severe recession in 1982 impacted the Florida housing market. In parallel, an especially brutal winter wreaked havoc on the Florida citrus industry where countless acres of orange groves were destroyed by sustained freezing temperatures. In the midst of the economic and weather carnage, Ed saw an opportunity.
As Keith recalls, “Dad saw all these frozen orange groves and he decided to buy this old loader. I think it was seven thousand dollars. We fixed it up and he started clearing orange groves. When I turned 16, I’d run it after school. We worked that loader six to seven days a week clearing and burning citrus groves.”
Since 1994, 4 Jays has operated as a land clearing company and recycling landfill facility. When Glen and Keith bought the company from their parents in 2004, they were excited and highly motivated to grow the business.
“We were already well experienced at land clearing, maximizing the loads, and taking them to our landfill,” says Glen. “Adding the grinding just fell into place.”
ENTERING THE MULCH MARKET
Glen and Keith purchased their first grinder that same year and put it to work on a storm clean-up contract at the Orlando airport and the city of Deltona. “When we bought the first one, we didn’t even know what we would do with the material,” says Keith. They managed to find an outlet, distributing the mulched material around municipal parks in Deltona.
As Glen and Keith started to gain an understanding of the mulch market, they leveraged the yard space at the landfill facility and expanded into coloured mulch production, investing in screening and colouring machinery. Today, 4 Jays has two main material outlets.
About 20 percent of the first grind material is hauled to the company’s own yard. Along with material brought to the recycling facility by outside customers, it goes through a secondary grind process, then is screened, coloured, and marketed in bulk. The other 80 percent is hauled directly from land clearing worksites to large-scale mulch production plants and bagging facilities, ultimately supplying the retail market.
SECTOR CHALLENGES
There are three distinct mulch seasons that the company must work around. The outlet for the material is not constant or consistent, and the material can only be stockpiled for a maximum of four months before it loses its value as a raw material for mulch production. There are also space constraints at 4 Jays’ landfill and recycling yard that limit how much material
can be stockpiled between seasons.
Rainfall, soil types, and ground conditions add constraints for the land clearing operations, and in Florida, palmetto is a particularly noteworthy challenge for the grinders. It is notoriously difficult to process and there isn’t a market for the material.
While Glen maintains good relationships with the site development contractors and project managers, the vagaries of project permitting mean that the land clearing phase of development site projects is rarely scheduled more than three to four months out. There is ongoing logistical manoeuvring related to scheduling land clearing jobs, ensuring consistent and reliable outlets for the ground material, and maintaining trucking efficiency. Because 4 Jays has control over the land clearing, grinding, and hauling, the company is well-equipped to provide a seamless service to its clients.
NEW IRON
Earlier this year, 4 Jays purchased two Tigercat 6900 grinders. The company’s initial growth spurt after Glen and Keith
Keith and Glen Jung are brothers and the owners of 4 Jays Recycling C&D Landfill and 4 Jays Land Services.
As the brothers gained an understanding of the mulch market, they leveraged yard space at the landfill facility and expanded into coloured mulch production.
ORGANICS
took the reins resulted in a massive increase both in capital investment and the complexity of the operations. The employee count reached approximately 60 until the recession and the U.S. real estate crash came along in 2008. Development projects in Florida hit a brick wall. The brothers were forced to reimagine a vastly different company during and after the recession, and Keith says that it was during this period that he learned the most about the intricacies of grinding.
“At that point out of necessity, we were hands-on with the grinders and we realized there is a lot involved with a grinder," Keith explains. “We ran lots of different brands and I learned them all myself first.”
Keith says that this direct experience of running and maintaining the machines every day provided insight and gave him perspective on operational issues — which made it easier to train new operators.
The knowledge gained through that difficult economic period was invaluable to the brothers, and when it came around to making the decision to purchase the Tigercat machines, “the whole equation came together. All the pieces — service, parts, personalities, and machine qualities,” says Keith.
SIMPLIFIED AND EFFICIENT MAINTENANCE
Currently the company runs three grinders including the two new 6900 models. “The thickness in the steel plate in the infeed floor and the side walls of the infeed, and all the areas where the actual work is done, is really important,” says Keith. “We liked the structure of the mill, the top feed roller, the yoke construction, and the aggressiveness of the teeth on the top roller. The size of the mill shaft and bearings and the support of the mill bearings are impressive. In our experience, mill bearings have been the biggest cause of downtime.”
“I was also impressed with the drive sprocket. The idler end of the feed chain is a nice, simple design. It’s not over-engineered. It is easy to look after, and we think it will last a long time. Another important feature is the three-ply belt along with the large diameter head pulley on the discharge. When the belt is not working around a tight diameter, it allows you to run three-ply instead of two-ply which is going to improve life. The computer control feed system is an intelligent design that controls all the set functions for maximizing production and efficiency. It takes all the guesswork away, and the operator’s need to handle the remote, and leaves [them] hands-free in control of keeping the 6900 fed with materials to grind. It’s the first horizontal grinder I’ve ever used or seen that can grind palm trees easily without getting clogged,” says Keith.
Keith also stresses the importance of layout and accessibility to facilitate efficient maintenance routines. How user-friendly is it for the operator? Does it have good, accessible cleanouts?
“We aim for 30 hours of productive work per week. That is for a 40-hour work week and includes five to ten hours of maintenance for the grinder and the supporting equipment,” says Keith.
Keith and Glen explain that land clearing sites rarely come with level ground. Good belt clearance and ground clearance are advantages in muddy conditions and on uneven ground. The 6900 has a unique tilting frame that pivots on the undercarriage and allows the operator to build higher piles and add versatility to change the infeed angle if required. The opera-
We were already well experienced at land clearing, maximizing the loads, and taking them to our landfill. Adding the grinding just fell into place.
Glen Jung Owner, 4 Jays Land Services
tor can traverse over uneven ground and adjust the pivot to create additional ground clearance or heights to discharge products into trucks.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Today, 4 Jays employs approximately 34 people. Many of these employees have been with the company for over 10 years.
“We try to treat the company like a family team and use each other’s strengths,” says Keith.
These long-term employees are versatile, possessing a wide skill set that allows them to fill in and work in multiple areas of the operations. It makes for a more resilient and flexible company that can react to problems and opportunities quickly.
“We don’t strive to be the biggest, we strive to be our best,” says Glen.
The tilting frame allows the operator to build higher piles and adds versatility to change the infeed angle if required.
TRADING TECH THAT PUTS HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS FIRST
any technology solution needs to be fast, reliable, and capable of adapting to these demands. Many recycling professionals have seen tech solutions fail to keep up, leaving a reluctance to invest time and resources into new tools that may not address their specific needs.
Lisa and Stuart Kagan, creators of Buddy, have witnessed these pain points firsthand. Buddy has emerged not only as a marketplace, but a comprehensive solution to streamline operations across trading and admin. I caught up with Lisa Kagan to learn more about how Buddy is solving longstanding issues in the industry, why tech that’s tailored to recyclers’ unique needs is crucial for driving real industry progress, and more.
a fragmented, time-intensive process that, despite its challenges, felt like the only option for securing competitive prices.
When Stuart and I moved to New Zealand and launched a metal business
together, these same issues persisted, amplified by the lack of suitable technology solutions for the recycling sector. I’d previously spent the better part of a decade with Deloitte as a management consultant and was no stranger to using technology for competitive advantage. Frustrated by the tech limitations in our own business, I began building internal systems to integrate key functions — inventory, CRM, transport, and pricing modules — creating a universal view of the customer and establishing a single source of truth for all business data. These systems streamlined operations and improved decision-making, but one major challenge remained: the endless hours Stuart spent trading across WhatsApp, email, and WeChat, often intruding into family time.
The turning point came when our New Zealand business was taken in a hostile takeover. While it was a difficult time,
it also gave us the freedom to pursue a solution that addressed the broader industry’s challenges. I dove into the industry’s needs with over 100 market validation interviews, speaking with recyclers, traders, and end users. These conversations highlighted two key insights: First, the industry would not embrace a purely transactional marketplace. Relationships were foundational, and recyclers wanted transparency and the chance to connect with their trading partners. This realization led us to hire a designer from the dating app world to embed relationship-building into Buddy’s platform. Second, while the trading process was a painful reality for most, nearly everyone mentioned the challenges of back-office tasks — managing loading schedules on spreadsheets, communicating through scattered emails and WhatsApp groups, and sharing loading photos via digital
cameras. This helped shape Buddy as not only a marketplace, but a comprehensive solution to streamline operations across trading, admin, and operations.
In your experience, what are the biggest challenges that recyclers face today, and how is Buddy helping them overcome these hurdles?
This is not an easy industry. Besides the day-to-day challenges of navigating market volatility, trade protectionism and the ever-increasing regulatory burden are
Lisa and Stuart Kagan, creators of Buddy.
top of mind for everyone. The industry as a collective is working together to navigate these external challenges and is fiercely advocating for recyclers to have a seat at the table rather than being on the menu, as John Sacco aptly puts it.
The more practical challenges that come up time and time again are labour shortages, key-person risk, the lack of access to data for decision-making, and cumbersome systems and processes.
While we can’t fix the labour challenges, we can help scrappies do more with the people they have. Through our one-to-many listings, programmatically generated documentation, and dynamic loading plans, we give traders, admin, and operators back their time so that they can focus on the highest-value tasks that tech can’t help them with.
We’re also helping our users document all the tacit knowledge and “invisible” processes that walk out the door every night and that may or may not come back the next day. This is powerful beyond just key person risk — it boosts productivity, reduces new hire training, and creates depth for role cover. By creating these cross-functional workflows, we’re able to capture thousands of data points that don’t currently exist in any system of record, right from trading through to operations.
For example, how many offers are you getting for each trade to ensure you’re getting the most competitive prices? When there’s a claim, who packed the container so that you can engage with them to find out what happened during loading and whether or not there might be a basis for the claim? You can identify which loaders are attracting the least claims, and get them to train those who are regularly attracting claims. What was the market when you sold compared to when the claim arrived, which might be worth considering when negotiating a claim?
How do you gather
and incorporate user feedback into the app’s development? Is there any surprising feedback you’ve received from users?
Users have the ability to provide feedback in-app, but we proactively reach out to users regularly to understand how they’re using Buddy, what features they’re enjoy-
Buddy streamlines operations across trading, admin, and more.
ing, and what features they’d love to see in the future. We work on fortnightly releases, which means that we have a pretty quick turnaround when it comes to implementing fixes, enhancements, and new features. That’s the beauty of cloud-based software, it’s continuously evolving and expanding, and users have the ability to influence what we build. The majority of our users are accustomed to on-premise software, which has much longer cycles for product updates, usually years. So there’s definitely an education piece there where we bring our users on the journey with us so that they can share in Buddy’s vision for the future of metal recycling and play an active part in its development.
The most surprising feedback has to be when one of our users told us that he loves Buddy so much, that he named his dog after us! On a more serious note though, a lot of our users have just picked up the app and started using it right away, before we’ve even done any training. Of course, this was what we hoped for, but we also know that this is an industry that isn’t a prolific user of tech and so we were expecting there to be more of a learning curve despite our intuitive interface.
What challenges do you face in getting traditional scrap traders to adopt
digital solutions?
One of the challenges that we face is that many companies have been burnt by failed software implementations or products that just don’t live up to what is promised, so there’s a bit of work we have to do to sell them on tech solutions more generally.
The slow adoption of tech as an industry has had more to do with a lack of good options rather than ignorance of the value that digitization can deliver. While there’s a groundswell of interest in digitization, there is also definitely a fear of change. Sometimes we’re confronted with an attitude of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, but once they see the solution in action we generally win over hearts and minds.
Some scrappies also view technology and relationships as being mutually exclusive, and you can see how that might be problematic when trying to grow adoption in a relationship-based industry. I think this is a common misconception because all the other marketplaces in the industry are
effectively digitally enabled trading houses where counterparties are obscured, which effectively removes relationships from the transaction. Buddy connects counterparties with full transparency, and through our content-rich profiles and through ratings and reviews, we help counterparties build trust efficiently.
What upcoming innovations or trends in the industry are you most excited about?
Right now, there’s a lot of buzz around AI, and rightly so. AI’s role in our physical operations is expanding, transforming areas like downstream processing and even grading at the buying scale. And we’ve been great at adopting tech in our operations. If you think about technologies like computer vision, automation, and robotics, there’s no shortage of industry innovation there.
We’re focused on empowering people across the recycling organization, so for us the excitement is around machine learning and big data. Once metal recyclers start capturing their data more broadly to include their trade operations, AI is going to unlock insights that can really turn the dial for operators. You can slice and dice and melt (yes that’s a thing) your data to make complex datasets digestible for decision-making. I also think that there’s a lot the industry can gain from incorporating the Internet of Things (IoT) into our operations. While it’s not a new innovation, we haven’t seen anyone doing anything meaningful with it in the industry yet and we feel this is a missed opportunity.
How do you see the industry evolving in the next few years?
There is going to be an increased demand for recycled materials, off the back of the transition from basic oxygen furnaces (BOFs) to electric arc furnaces (EAFs) and more generally an earnest focus on sustainability across the broader supply chain. But with increased pressure on our margins as a result of other macroeconomic forces, operators are going to have to look in different places to realize
cost efficiencies and to grow their revenues. We expect data is going to play an increasingly important role here, helping operators to uncover insights to improve their bottom line.
Much of the industry hasn’t migrated to cloud-based solutions, so even though this isn’t considered new technology, I believe that we will see a step-change where operators come to the realization that upgrading and integrating their tech stack can have a transformative impact. As the old guard moves into retirement and younger generations start to make up an increasing share of the workforce, the expectations around how work gets done are going to drive organizations to adopt more modern solutions.
The convergence of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and robotic automation is also something really exciting to think about, but for this industry in particular I think that we need to first crawl before we can walk.
What advice would you give
to
other entrepreneurs in the recycling tech space?
Do your homework, assume nothing. Even if you have deep domain expertise, if you want to build a solution for the industry at large, you need to spend time asking the right questions to a large sample of potential users to understand the universality of their needs and challenges, to uncover what is going have a real impact on their business, and to quantify the value that your solution can deliver. We conducted over a hundred interviews with operators and traders globally before we laid down a single line of code. It’s also worth collaborating with other players in the space. There’s a huge amount of behavioural change that needs to happen for the industry to digitize, and working together to catalyze change can only help. RPN
Buddy connects counterparties with full transparency through content-rich profiles and ratings and reviews.
EVENTS CALENDAR
CONNECT WITH THE INDUSTRY
USCC COMPOST CONFERENCE PHOENIX, AZ
| JANUARY 27 – 30
The US Composting Council’s COMPOST2025: Thirsty for Solutions event brings together composters, industry leaders, and sustainability experts from across the nation. With seven interactive workshops, three tours, 75 speakers, an equipment demonstration day, and over 100 exhibitors, COMPOST2025 is the event of the year for the composting industry. compostconference.com
DEMOLITION NEW ORLEANS NEW ORLEANS,
LA | MARCH 5 – 8
Demolition New Orleans is the NDA’s conference for 2025. The Expo Hall will feature access to a full range of products and services that can help add efficiencies, capture new opportunities, and increase profits. At the Live DEMOlition Event, participants will have the opportunity to test the latest equipment in the industry. demolitionassociation.com/Education-Events/Demolition-NewOrleans-2025
C&D WORLD DALLAS, TX
| MARCH 11 – 14
C&D World allows leaders to connect, share knowledge, and discover the latest advancements shaping the future of construction and demolition recycling. The event brings together waste management companies, construction material suppliers, C&D recyclers, demolition contractors, government agencies, consulting firms, and many more. cdraconference.com
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NATIONAL HARBOR, MD | MARCH 24 – 25 PLASTICSRECYCLING.COM
NIAGARA FALLS, ON | MARCH 27 – 29 OARA.COM/EVENTS/2025-OARA-CONVENTIONTRADE-SHOW
