By Josiah Sananda
AUSTIN, TX (September 20, 2024) –
We just wrapped up an incredible tour of the Balcones Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Austin, and wow, was it enlightening! If you’ve ever wondered what happens to your recyclables after they leave your blue cart, this is where the real action takes place. Balcones Recycling is one of the largest independent recycling companies in the country, and their flagship facility in Austin is nothing short of fascinating.
Balcones Recycling is all about building a circular economy. They’re focused on recovering and recycling as many materials as possible to keep them out of landfills. Their Austin MRF, which opened in 2012, is the result of the single largest investment in recycling in Texas, and it can process a whopping 25 tons of material per hour! On average, they handle 11,000 to 15,000 tons of recyclables each month, coming from both commercial and residential sources.
Science Meets Sustainability
One of the most shocking parts of the tour was seeing how they sort through the mountain of recyclables. Balcones uses a variety of advanced technologies to separate materials. For example, near-infrared sensors can detect the type of plastic composing bottles and containers, which helps sort them. They also use fiber optic technology to sort paper, cardboard, and mixed paper, while an Eddy current separator pulls out aluminum cans. It’s mind-blowing to see how these machines can detect and divide materials with such precision.
Most of the items entering the facility are sorted using an initial screen. Items smaller than the palm of your hand, like bottle caps and paper scraps, can fall through the screens. Don’t even get us started on plastic bags—these are the MRF’s worst enemy. Plastic bags can jam the machinery, causing delays and inefficiencies. So, please, keep plastic bags out of your recycling cart!
What Gets Recycled… and What Doesn’t
It was interesting to learn about some of the most common mistakes people make when recycling. Aside from plastic bags, Styrofoam is another big headache. When Styrofoam goes through the machines, it can break apart into confetti-like particles, making it hard to remove. And as for bottle caps? Go ahead and leave them on your bottles!
Balcones Recycling processes over 1 million tons of material every year, and about 80% of what comes through the door is processed for recycling. In addition to all the high-tech equipment, a lot of the work at Balcones is done by hand. Workers are responsible for pulling out non-conforming items from the conveyor belts—a crucial task. Seeing them in action was a reminder that every time we throw something non-recyclable into the cart, we’re making someone’s job that much harder.
The Future of Recycling
As the tour wrapped up, we learned about how Balcones is expanding, with 19 locations so far and plans for more. They currently provide services to over 13 million people, and their mission is clear: to make recycling as efficient and sustainable as possible. We left with a better understanding of how everyday actions can make a big difference.
Remember, recycling isn’t about getting it perfect every time — it’s about our city coming together to do the best we can to reduce waste!
Bring this knowledge to your school! Check out Keep Austin Beautiful’s Generation Zero Waste program. Thank you to Austin Resource Recovery for supporting Generation Zero Waste.
