A new materials recovery facility (MRF) has opened in the city of Chicago, Illinois, with state-of-the-art equipment thanks to a collaborative grant from the Carton Council of North America and the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI). The opening of this facility, which will be operated by Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), the city’s recycling service provider for four of the six recycling zones, marks a significant milestone in enhancing recycling capabilities and promoting sustainable practices in the region.
This joint initiative comes in response to the growing demand for efficient recycling infrastructure. The new facility has been designed with industry-leading practices, advanced technologies, and a cutting-edge optical sorter to ensure the efficient sorting and processing of various recyclable materials. These materials include food packaging items such as paper cups, pizza boxes, food and beverage cartons, paper bags, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) cups and aluminum foil food packaging. After entering the recycling system, these items are baled and primarily sent to recyclers located in the Great Lakes region where they transform the materials into new products, thus promoting the advancement of the circular economy.
A new materials recovery facility in Chicago will be operated by Lakeshore Recycling Systems.
“Collaboration is a cornerstone of the Carton Council’s strategy. We are proud to work with the Foodservice Packaging Institute and Lakeshore Recycling Systems, contributing to a more efficient infrastructure in the Chicago area,” said Jason Pelz, vice president of recycling projects for the Carton Council. “When we partner with others who share our commitment to improving recycling, it’s a win-win.”
The facility’s capabilities are optimized to handle the additional recyclable tons generated within the city and maximize the recovery of valuable resources, benefiting over one million residents in the Windy City and surrounding communities.
“This new facility will enable us to provide enhanced waste management services and maximize recycling efforts, benefiting the community we proudly serve,” said John Larsen, chief operating officer at LRS.
To celebrate this significant achievement, LRS hosted a ribbon-cutting event to inaugurate the facility. The event was attended by representatives from LRS, the Foodservice Packaging Institute, the Carton Council, and the City of Chicago. The occasion served as a testament to the strong partnership between these organizations and their dedication to sustainable waste management practices.
