April 23, 2009
Mayor Bronconnier Officially Opens Recycling Sorting Facility
Materials Recovery Facility Opening (PDF - 1,062 KB)
Calgary - Mayor Dave Bronconnier set the machinery in motion officially opening Calgary's new recycling sorting plant today. The materials recovery facility (MRF), which is owned and operated by METRO Waste Paper Recovery Inc., will sort all of the recyclables collected through The City's Blue Cart recycling service and community recycling depots.
Materials Recovery Facility Opening (Video)
"Making investments today to protect our environment is a commitment and priority for City Council," said Mayor Bronconnier. "With the Blue Cart program and the opening of this facility, Calgarians are now able to divert twice as many recyclable items away from our landfills - thereby saving land, saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
The MRF is located in the Eastlake Industrial Centre in southeast Calgary. In addition to the multitude of local trades people involved in the construction of the MRF, the facility will employ 60 Calgarians. METRO will initially focus on recyclables collected by The City but will accept materials from private recyclers later this year.
"Calgary's new Blue Cart recycling program has brought this facility to Calgary," says Albino Metauro, Chief Executive Officer of METRO Waste Paper Recovery Inc. "This facility is one of the largest in Canada and uses the most advanced sorting technology available today. We are delighted to work with The City, and as we look into the future, we will be able to service not only the municipality, but private companies as well."
The facility can process up to 40 tonnes of mixed recyclables per hour and 120,000 tonnes per year. The City of Calgary expects to collect approximately 80,000 tonnes of household recyclables each year, allowing for more capacity in the future.
Using the latest equipment including optical sorters, magnets and conveyors, the plant will sort plastics 1-7, newspapers and magazines, cardboard and mixed paper, food cans and glass. METRO will ship the sorted materials to companies that will turn them into new products.
"The MRF is a key component to the success of the new Blue Cart service," says Dave Griffiths, Director of Waste & Recycling Services with The City of Calgary. "It makes recycling easier for residents as they can put all recyclables together in the blue carts without sorting and expands The City's recycling service to include plastics."
METRO Waste Paper Recovery Inc. is one of North America's largest collectors, processors and marketers of recyclable materials. METRO has been serving the industrial, commercial, printing and municipal sectors for over 30 years and operates 18 MRFs in 14 marketplaces across Canada and the U.S.
The City will provide Blue Cart recycling service to approximately 300,000 single family homes up to and including fourplexes. Collection of recyclables from homes began in the southwest quadrant on April 21. Service will begin in the southeast on May 12, northwest on June 9 and northeast on June 30. For more information about Blue Cart recycling, visit calgary.ca/bluecart.