Quest to Understand Single-Stream Recycling Final Destination

Chris, Frank, Holly & Steve

The Zero Waste Zone Team continues the quest to understand the final destination of commercial recycling efforts.  Frank Killoran and Bonny Moore of Pratt Industries took time out of their busy schedules to take Holly Elmore, ZWZ Director, Chris Moyer, National Restaurant Association Conserve Program, and Steve Simon, Fifth Group Restaurants & ZWZ-Midtown Champion, on a detailed tour of their East Point Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).

Contamination @ the MRF

Along with the tour, Frank and Bonny educated on how the foodservice industry may take responsibility at the source to separate recyclables to retain their maximum reproduction value.  It was amazing to witness the contaminated material delivered to the MRF as "recyclables" that ends up in the landfill.



The ZWZ Team left with ideas on how to start cleaning up the stream in their operations and are exploring several pilot projects.  Stay tuned to learn how the commercial sector may adopt new practices that bring integrity to recycling efforts and make good business sense.