The deCON iV+ decontamination dryer increases the IV of PET flakes produced from recycling thermoformed containers.

While demand is strong for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle flakes, that is not yet the case for PET flakes made from thermoformed containers. In the U.S., roughly 15 percent of PET thermoformed materials, such as clamshells, cups, trays and boxes, are recovered from the recycling stream, according to American Starlinger-Sahm Inc., Fountain Inn, South Carolina. 

“In the North American market, postconsumer thermoforms are generally not captured in the PET recycling stream,” says Jeff Cornell, vice president of sales at American Starlinger-Sahm. “This is changing with new legislation and improved technologies to sort out this valuable material.”

Because PET thermoforms have a lower intrinsic viscosity (IV) than PET bottles and are amorphous, the material needs pretreatment, the company says.

For tray-to-tray recycling, the IV of the sheet and the final thermoformed packaging must be kept at an optimal level. That is why in 2019, Starlinger Viscotec presented a turnkey solution designed to close the tray recycling loop with deCON iV+ decontamination dryer.

“With Viscotec’s experience, we are poised to meet the demand for true tray-to-tray circular economy requirements with the deCONiv+, offering crystallization, super cleaning decontamination and iv increase all in one compact unit,” Cornell says.

The deCONiV+ is designed for the production of dry, IV increased, crystallized, dedusted postconsumer flakes, Starlinger says. The unit processes thermoform flakes, bottle flakes or in-house skeleton waste and is installed directly in front of a production extruder.

Thanks to the increase of IV in the deCON iV+ in every recycling cycle, the material’s IV  losses are recovered, and quality is optimized, according to the company.

European carbide tools maker sees recycling as viable path for discarded tools and components.

Fagersta, Sweden-based Seco Tools says it is “uniquely placed to make a strong contribution to the circular economy” via the recycling of its discarded end-of-life carbide tool components.

Recycling will play a key role in reaching Seco Tools' ambitious goal of being 90 percent circular by the year 2030, the company says, adding that its planning includes a number of changes to processes and business models.

“It’s a challenging target, but we see this as very important for our company and our business,” says Ted Forslund, sustainability and audit coordinator at Seco Tools. “What is good for Seco Tools is that we already have very good recycling processes, so now it’s about creating a good partnership with our clients so that they understand the value of us buying back tools, so that it becomes a closed circle where nothing goes to waste.”

Seco Tools says it can put itself “in a strong position” to have a high recycling rate by buying back tools that have reached the end of their productive lives and recycling or repurposing them into new tools. “If we increase that kind of trade where we buy back [scrap] and get customers to understand the advantages of it, we can reduce the climate impact, as we won’t need to use new materials and metals. It’s a win-win in many ways,” says Forslund.

The company cites an “ever-growing awareness of environmental concerns” as meaning suppliers and customers are keen to see initiatives that address them. “This has proved very positive so far with customers,” says Forslund. “They know the tools we produce using recycled materials are of the same very high standard, that there is no drop-off in quality. There is now also a market for the buyback of tools that have reached the end of their useful lives, and that is a positive thing for them too. It’s about getting this into our business relationships in a positive way.”

The company also says cost-efficient and better quality collection and treatment systems and effective segmentation of end-of-life products will enable Seco Tools to support the economics of circular design.

“It is essential to work with our suppliers and customers in order to take on the global challenge,” says Forslund. “If we do, we can create more value with less waste within a safe operating space for our planet—again, it’s a win-win situation.”

Willimantic Waste in Connecticut says material handler with elevated cab is ideal for sorting through inbound material.

Tim and Tom DeVivo, co-owners of Willimantic Waste in Willimantic, Connecticut, say their newly purchased Sennebogen 818 material handler has been a more than worthy replacement for the excavator it has replaced, which was a “workhorse” that provided 30,000 hours of dependable service.

When shopping for a new handler, the brothers say they knew there were now more efficient options available, and they set their sights on obtaining a purpose-built material handler.

“The old one didn’t have an elevating cab,” says Tim DeVivo, noting that high-rise visibility would help operators to sort the incoming bulk items delivered to the site. “A purpose-built machine gives us fuel savings, too, which add up over eight-to-10-hour shifts every day.”

A search of local equipment dealers narrowed their choices down to two contenders. By spring of 2020, they decided on a tread-mounted Sennebogen 818 R-HD from Tyler Equipment, which carries Sennebogen handlers at its dealerships in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

“We knew what we wanted, but the other company just wasn’t listening,” Tim DeVivo comments. “We don’t need a wheeled machine here; it sits in one place all day, picking through the material as it comes in and loading the shaker table. I felt very comfortable with Tyler, with their service and warranty package. They made the commitment to respond within 24 hours when we need service.”

Constantino Lannes, president of North Carolina-based Sennebogen LLC, praises Tyler for responding to the business needs of its customer. “This is a core value at Sennebogen: to think ‘beyond the machine’ and look at what the customer needs to be successful. The waste stream at Willimantic never stops, so we have to be ready to keep them up and running throughout the life of the machine.”

The unit Tyler delivered is an 818 R-HD E-Series fitted a 30-inch rotating basket sorting grapple. Its K10 ULM boom provides a reach of up to 33 feet, two inches, lifting a maximum load of 15,870 pounds, or 7.9 tons.

Tim DeVivo says his operators appreciate how Sennebogen’s hydraulic controls allow operators to handle the grapple easily, allowing them to sort right from the pile. Tyler also had the 818 equipped with limit stops on the boom that let the machine work quickly and safely indoors. According to DeVivo, “The lock allows it to reach its maximum height without hitting the roof – it eliminates operator error.”

The 818 is now on duty sorting and loading as much as 500 tons of construction and demolition (C&D) material per day, and in a typical day handles about 250 to 350 tons. DeVivo’s C&D operation is on one of three adjacent Willimantic sites, including its maintenance yard and material recovery facility (MRF).

C&D processing begins with Willimantic’s large bin fleet for construction and demolition projects, along with household bin rentals collecting bulk items that range from sofas to hot water and propane tanks. The bin operation, including three feeder stations north of the city, serves a 30-mile radius in eastern Connecticut.

Willimantic Waste began recycling metal, rags and paper in the 1940s with the DeVivo brothers’ grandfather, Patrick. Their father, Jim, expanded the business into a full range of recycling and collection streams for residential and commercial customers.

Today, the fourth generation of the DeVivo family is also taking place in the family enterprise. Tim DeVivo says family values shared with Tyler Equipment and Sennebogen – also multigenerational businesses – help the companies see eye to eye.

He replaces his father, Larry Kripke, in the role.

Kripke Enterprises, Inc. (KEI), headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, has announced that Matt Kripke has been named CEO of KEI in addition to his role as president. Matt Kripke’s father, Larry Kripke, will assume the title of founder.

Larry Kripke and his wife, Joanie Kripke, started the nonferrous brokerage company with one other employee in 1993. KEI operates from its Toledo headquarters as well as from Coconut Creek, Florida, and Jackson, Tennessee. The company’s three divisions include aluminum coil distributor Mid South Aluminum Inc., which KEI acquired in 2017. KEI employs 60 people.

“My father’s calm and steady guidance allowed our company to thrive and overcome adversity in our early years,” Matt Kripke says. “The continued success of Kripke Enterprises is a credit to Larry’s skills as a teacher, mentor, trader and leader. Working with my father and growing our company together has been the business highlight of my life.”

Matt Kripke bean working at the family business in 1994 and became president of KEI in 2012. 

“I am truly honored to carry on my parents’ legacy and excited to be leading the best team in the aluminum industry,” he says. “My parents believed in me, even when I doubted myself. They laid the groundwork for our company’s growth, and I am grateful to both of them.”

According to a news release from the company regarding the leadership change, Larry Kripke set the foundation for the core values that KEI practices daily: The company prioritizes relationships, being solution-oriented and being true to its word.

As part of the three-year contract, the company will provide residential recycling collection services in four of the city’s six recycling regions.

Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) has announced Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), Morton Grove, Illinois, will assume residential recycling collection services in four of Chicago’s six recycling regions beginning this June, while DSS crews will continue services in two areas.

According to a news release from DSS and LRS, four companies submitted bids, and the lowest bidder, LRS, was selected for the three-year contract. DSS says the contract is for $79.6 million and that the department is working with partners to ensure a smooth transition and no service interruptions are expected.

The city and company report that LRS has “more recycling assets than any other company in the Chicago area, including a state-of-the-art single-stream recycling facility that can sort cardboard, mixed paper, glass, steel, other metals and plastics.”

“We are excited to partner with the city of Chicago,” says Joshua Connell, managing partner of LRS. “We look forward to providing reliable recycling collection services and increased recycling rates for the city of Chicago and its residents.”

As part of the contract, LRS will collect recycling with less than 50 percent contamination. A spokesperson from the city of Chicago told Recycling Today that LRS will submit daily reports on contaminated carts with more than 50 percent contamination levels with photographic evidence. The spokesperson says the city will also have field staff to monitor contamination levels.

“The Department of Streets and Sanitation remains committed to supporting waste diversion efforts,” says Chicago Commissioner John Tully. “The contract allows for penalties for missed collection and has a greater clarification around contamination. We believe these will help improve recycling rates.”

A contract following this three-year contract will be guided by the results of a citywide waste study led by the Mayor’s Office, in partnership with Delta Institute, which is expected to be released later this quarter. The city says the study reviews current waste- and recycling-related policies, contracts, data and infrastructure. The study will guide the development of a framework for further improving recycling and waste diversion, including in commercial and high-density residential settings.

A spokesperson for the city tells Recycling Today that it hopes the study provides recommendations for all the city's material management to inform and improve recycling and waste diversion for residential, commercial and high-density residential settings.

Additionally, DSS and the Chicago Department of Public Health received a grant from the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) to work on food waste reduction in 2021. The Food Matters project at NRDC partners with cities to achieve reductions in food waste through policies and programs.