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FIRST OF ITS KIND VESSEL COLLECTS, TREATS AND REPURPOSES FLOATING PLASTIC DEBRIS

The SeaCleaners have developed the Manta, a first-of-its-kind processing ship designed to collect, treat and repurpose large volumes of floating plastic debris. The Manta extracts both floating macro-waste and smaller debris, from 10 mm upward and up to 1 m deep, from highly polluted waters, along coasts, in estuaries and in the mouths of large rivers. Depending on the density and closeness of the layers of waste, the Manta can collect between 1 to 3 tonnes of waste per hour, with the objective of collecting 5 to 10,000 tonnes per year. It can operate for up to 20 hours a day, 7 days a week, and uses onboard waste-to-energy technology to convert the collected plastics into fuel to power the ship. The Manta will also host other scientific missions on board, and when in port will hold educational and learning conferences for the general public.

GFL ACQUISITION OF TERRAPURE FOR $743.8 MILLION EXCLUDES BATTERY RECYCLING OPERATIONS

GFL Environmental has closed the previously announced acquisition of the solid waste and environmental solutions business of Terrapure Environmental and its subsidiaries. For an aggregate purchase price of $743.8 million, the acquisition includes all Terrapure assets, excluding the company’s battery recycling business.

“Terrapure brings a high-quality, complementary network of assets and customer base to our existing solid and liquid waste operations and expands our service offerings in several regional markets,” said Patrick Dovigi, founder and chief executive officer of GFL. “This strategically located network of assets and Terrapure’s strong operating margins are expected to be immediately accretive to free cash flow and provide opportunities for us to continue to pursue our growth strategy.”

In March 2021, GFL Environmental entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the solid waste and environmental solutions business of Terrapure for C$927.5 million.

LARGEST SORTING PLANT IN LATIN AMERICA IS UP AND RUNNING IN MEXICO CITY

The Azcapotzalco Transfer Station and Sorting Plant, the largest and most modern in Latin America, has opened its doors in Mexico City. The new Azcapotzalco facility was built in partnership with MRF equipment and technology supplier STADLER, is run by Pro Ambiente, a subsidiary of CEMEX, and is the country’s first government-owned automated plant for the separation and treatment of municipal solid waste. The 11,000-square-metre facility sorts paper, cardboard, multilayer packaging, PET and HDPE, plastic bags and film, aluminum cans, metallized bags, textiles, glass and other metals. The plant was commissioned in May 2021, with official start up on July 25 and is expected to generate over 400 jobs. It operates in conjunction with a transfer station, and will be capable of receiving up to 1,400 tonnes of waste per day.

NEW PURECYCLE FACILITY TO PRODUCE ULTRA-PURE RPP FROM WASTE POLYPROPYLENE

PureCycle Technologies, Inc. has reached an agreement with The Augusta Economic Development Authority to build its first U.S. cluster facility to produce ultra-pure recycled polypropylene (rPP) from waste polypropylene (PP). The 200-acre location in Augusta Corporate Park will create over 80 manufacturing jobs with an initial $440 million investment to primarily fund three lines of 130mm pounds of capacity during Phase 1 of the project. Augusta-Richmond County was selected based on feed and product delivery supply chain efficiencies, community support, a skilled labour market and Georgia’s business-friendly environment.

PureCycle uses licensed proprietary technology to recycle waste PP into ultra-pure recycled PP for applications spanning consumer goods, automotive, building and construction, and industrial uses. The company can process a wide range of waste PP with varying levels of contamination.

KADANT ACQUIRES BALEMASTER FOR $54 MILLION

Kadant Inc. has completed its acquisition of Balemaster for $54 million in cash, subject to certain customary adjustments. Balemaster is a manufacturer of horizontal balers and related equipment used primarily for recycling packaging waste at corrugated box plants and large retail and distribution centres. The company’s revenue for the twelve months ended June 30, 2021, was approximately $22 million. Balemaster will become part of Kadant’s material handling reporting segment.

ONTARIO END-OFLIFE TIRE PROGRAM IS DEMONSTRATING SUCCESS ON THE ROAD TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY

The province’s recently established approach to end-of-life tire diversion could benefit the future of the entire scrap tire industry across Canada, reduce our carbon footprint and help with developing a more circular economy in North America, according to eTracks Tire Management System’s Steve Meldrum.

For more on this story, turn to page 24.

LATEST WASTE CONNECTIONS ACQUISITIONS REFLECTS U.S. EXPANSION

Waste Connections has acquired E.L. Harvey & Sons Inc., the largest family owned and operated solid waste services company in Massachusetts, with total annualized revenue of approximately $110 million, and a 110-year history dating back four generations. Harvey provides solid waste collection, recycling and transfer services to commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers primarily in Central and Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.

“The Harvey family has established one of the most respected companies in our industry, and we are honoured to welcome Harvey to the Waste Connections family,” said Worthing F. Jackman, Waste Connections’ president and chief executive officer. “Together with their continuing leadership team, we look forward to carrying on the Harvey name and further expanding its market position, as well as enhancing its strong culture of support for its employees, customers and communities.”

Waste Connections also announced the closing of one of its two previously announced signed acquisitions, with approximately $50 million of annualized revenue from franchise operations in Northern California and Nevada. The company expects the other signed acquisition, a solid waste services provider with approximately $25 million of annualized revenue from franchise operations in Oregon, to close during the fourth quarter.

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ISRI RECOGNIZED FOR COVID-19 RESOURCE HUB

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) was recognized as a 2021 APEX Award Winner for its COVID-19 Resource Hub, which provides resources for members in the areas of safe operations, state and local policies, federal legislation, and recycling as part of essential critical infrastructure.

Through their COVID-19 Resource Hub, ISRI provided real-time updates on government policies as well as the latest safe operations guidelines. These updates were provided in a variety of forms including podcasts, newsletters and videos, as well as member alerts. The Hub also included toolkits for recyclers to use with their employees to communicate safe operations, and the association also had a COVID-specific email address to triage pandemic related questions from members.

NORTHSTAR BRINGS INNOVATION TO ASPHALT SHINGLE RECYCLING

Northstar Clean Technologies, a Delta, B.C.-based clean technology company focused on the recovery and repurposing of single-use asphalt shingles, recently raised $12.24 million and has been subsequently listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Northstar’s Bitumen Extraction and Separation Technology (BEST) uses a proprietary process to separate the liquid asphalt, fibre and aggregate sands from discarded or defective asphalt roofing shingles destined for landfill.

According to Northstar, asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing material in North America due to their low cost, low weight, and durability, representing over 80 percent of the roofs constructed in North America today, and landfill tipping fees have tripled on average. The company says an asphalt shingle roof typically has a 15-year lifespan, after which it gets torn off and replaced. Twelve million tons of asphalt shingles are sent to landfills annually in North America with only 1 million tons recycled back into road pavement. In a survey of 13 Vancouver, B.C.based roofing companies, it was confirmed that environmental concerns have spread to the frontlines of asphalt roofing industry and that tipping fees have tripled in the last 10 years.

RPRA 2021 REGISTRY FEES FOR MANAGING ONTARIO’S EPR PROGRAMS RANGE FROM $75 TO $7,500 PER YEAR

The Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) has posted the final 2021 Registry fees for Blue Box materials and Hazardous and Special Products (HSP). These are fees that producers are required to pay to the Authority in 2021 to recover its operational costs, including costs related to building and operating the Registry, and compliance and enforcement activities. There are no fees for service providers or producer responsibility organizations (PROs) in 2021. Fees range from a $75 flat yearly fee for producers supplying less than 50,000 kg paper/packaging to a $7,500 yearly fee for producers and sellers of mercury-containing barometers, thermometers and thermostats.

EREF’S NEW STRATEGIC PLAN REFLECTS EXPANSION INTO SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT SPACE

The Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) has revealed a new five-year strategic plan and new vision and mission statements. Under this new direction, EREF will further branch out into the sustainability space, aiming to build relationships with and unite every aspect of the circular economy. The new mission is to advance scientific research and create educational pathways that enable innovation in sustainable waste management practices.

This new plan and expansion into sustainable materials management comes at a time of increased corporate focus on social responsibility driven by consumer interest, increased regulatory focus on extended producer responsibility, and roadblocks to sustainability, such as technological limitations, greenwashing and limited consumer education. Sustainable materials management requires cooperation from a number of parties, including manufacturers, brands, consumers and the waste industry, and EREF seeks to advance science, data availability and knowledge, as well as open dialogue across the circular economy.

EREF says their current core programs will continue: Research Grants, Scholarships, Education and Data & Policy; however, the organization says it will incorporate more focus on sustainability and the circular economy and will be leveraged to inform conversations with new constituents. According to the organization, this new five-year plan brings a stronger focus on development and marketing/communications, and as EREF moves further into the sustainability space, this strategy will open doors to new stakeholders and audiences.

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TITAN 950

Slow Speed Shredder

Since 1983, Bandit has been providing equipment for a multitude of wood waste processing markets. Our vision since the beginning is to manufacture quality, highly productive, easy to maintain equipment providing years of dependable service. The commitment for quality, innovation and dedication is instilled in every Bandit employee and is one of the main reasons why Bandit became an Employee-Owned Company (ESOP) in 2018. These core values ensure each Bandit machine will leave the factory ready to exceed your expectations. With the most diverse product line in the industry backed by our extensive parts, sales and service team supporting our highly trained global dealer network consisting of over 235 locations, we are a force to be reckoned with! For those who have joined, we thank you. If you are wondering what this could mean for your business we have one question: Are you ready to join forces?