Several Quincy recycle workers celebrate safety wearing yellow safety clothing in Alsip, IL.

365 Days Accident-Free

Quincy Recycle’s Alsip, IL plant hit an impressive milestone in April – 365 days without an accident!

Why is that important to our vendors and customers? Two main reasons:

  • fewer accidents means lower costs
  • a safe environment is more efficient, reducing freight & handling costs

“Our customers and vendors benefit,” Jon DeBoer, Operations Manager of the Alsip (Chicago-area) plant said, “because once their commodities leave their facilities they’re in good hands. Vendors can rest assured that no matter what type of materials they send Quincy Recycle, they’ll be handled and processed safely.”

This reduces our vendors’ exposure to insurance and other liabilities.

How does this culture of safety happen? Not by accident…

“At Quincy Recycle, safety is driven as part of our culture from the top down,” said John Danker, General Manager of the Alsip facility. “Safety is a focus for all of our team members from the time they walk in the door in the morning until they leave in the afternoon.”

“Each and every team member is held accountable for keeping themselves safe as well as keeping their teammates safe,” Danker stressed when asked how to create a safe work environment.

Plants become more efficient when all employees can rely on each other, knowing that all are working safely. A team working together, keeping safety in mind, becomes a stronger, more effective team.

“Going 365 days without lost time means that we have had the same team on the floor at full strength for a full year. You cannot ask for more than that,” DeBoer points out.

Congratulations to our incredible team and management at Quincy Recycle’s Alsip facility! Their example is a strong encouragement to all of our plants to meet or exceed this record – something our highly competitive team will jump at.

If you’d like to learn more about Quincy Recycle’s culture of safety and how that positively affects our vendors and customers, contact your rep or call 800-311-6097 and ask for a B2B recycling expert.

Photo of Kelsey Hayes and her husband at the beach

Employee Spotlight: Kelsey Hayes

Kelsey Hayes truly owns her role as our Financial Controller and the respective scope of responsibilities she and her team share in ensuring the accuracy of our financial data and the integrity of our processes and transactions.  She has a thirst for knowledge and understanding in all aspects of our business, and she is committed to learning and continuous improvement.  In the 18 plus months that she has been our Financial Controller, Kelsey has built a strong, balanced, and dynamic team where voices are heard, strengths are leveraged, and internal controls are protected. Phil Hildebrand said of her, “Kelsey’s determination, sense of urgency, and high orientation for detail give me confidence that our team is on top of the day-to-day activities with a focus on making it easy for our vendors and our customers to do business with us.”

When did you start with Quincy Recycle?

July 2017

What was your job title when you started?

Financial Accountant

What is your current title?

Financial Controller

If you had to pick one, which Core Value is your favorite and why?

Alive & Well. Safety is the top priority at Quincy Recycle but this core value also represents work-life balance. I am happy to work for a company that values me as a person and wants to see me succeed in all facets of life.

What was the most challenging thing to learn in your roles?

Learning a new accounting system and the recycling industry in general was challenging during my first few years at Quincy Recycle. As my role has changed over the last 6 years, I have been continually challenged in new ways and never know when a new learning moment will arise.

What was the most surprising or fun thing to learn?

I am constantly amazed by the amount of companies Quincy Recycle works with. I think it is fascinating to walk into a store and recognize companies/brands of products on the shelves that I have worked with in my role at QRP.

What’s your favorite part about working at Quincy Recycle?

The people and the ability for unlimited growth.

What would you like prospective employees to know about Quincy Recycle?

Hard work does not go unnoticed at Quincy Recycle. If you put in the time, effort, and energy, you will realize great things at this company.

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

Spoiling my 8 nieces & nephews, playing volleyball year-round, and traveling! My husband and I are going on an Alaskan cruise this Summer!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever read or received?

Keep the mentality “If it is to be, it is up to me”. If you want something in life, you are the only one that can make it happen!

If you had to pick a song to portray the culture of Quincy Recycle, what would it be and why?

We Are Family” by Sister Sledge

Quincy Recycle Circular Economy

How Quincy Recycle Fits Into Your Circular Economy Plan

In recent years, the circular economy concept has gained significant traction.

But what exactly does it mean? At its core, a circular economy seeks to shift from the traditional linear “take-make-dispose” approach to a more sustainable model based on recycling, reusing, and reducing waste. A circular shift requires businesses to rethink their current practices and look for ways to improve sustainability goals.

In this blog, we’ll shed light on how Quincy Recycle can be your trusted partner in achieving your circular economy plan.

Waste Reduction Through Material Recovery

Millions of tons of reusable materials end up in landfills every year. Quincy Recycle is dedicated to sourcing and collecting these materials before they go to waste.

Through advanced material recovery techniques, we help identify recyclable materials within your waste stream and recover them. Our team works with customers to collect various types of plastic, metal, paper, cardboard, and other materials for repurposing or reuse. We work with national partners in a circular approach to ensure that valuable resources are extracted and reintegrated into the supply chain.

Overall, material recovery helps businesses reduce their waste output, save on landfill fees, and optimize the use of resources.

Sustainable Resource Management with Industrial Symbiosis

Industrial symbiosis offers a unique opportunity for businesses to exchange and utilize each other’s waste as valuable resources. Quincy Recycle contributes to industrial symbiosis in a circular economy by connecting and collaborating with different industries.

For example, imagine a plastic manufacturing company generating a significant amount of waste in their process. Instead of disposing of the waste, Quincy Recycle identifies a symbiotic opportunity by connecting the plastic manufacturer with another company needing plastic raw materials, such as a packaging company.

We then facilitate the transfer of plastic waste to the packaging company, which uses it as a valuable resource to produce new packaging materials. Multi-company collaboration allows the plastic manufacturer to reduce waste and disposal costs and enables the packaging company to obtain cost-effective raw materials.

Our industrial symbiotic relationships help businesses close the loop in their production cycles. Waste from one industry becomes a valuable resource for another, and everyone involved becomes part of a more sustainable circular economy.

Circular Economy set Industrial symbiosis creative upcycling regenerative design for sustainability Environment-focused innovation

Protecting Your Image and the Bottom Line

Circular economy plans can promote a business’s reputation and brand image as an environmentally responsible entity. In an increasingly conscious marketplace, consumers and stakeholders demand sustainable practices and are more likely to support businesses prioritizing environmental stewardship. Working with a reputable recycling partner like Quincy Recycle allows businesses to strengthen their brand value and differentiate themselves from competitors.

Implementing a circular economy plan with Quincy Recycle can also bring economic benefits. Businesses can efficiently manage their waste streams, minimize disposal and hauling costs, and potentially generate additional revenue by selling recycled materials or by-products.

Why Work with Quincy Recycle on a Circular Economy Plan?

We offer customized solutions and recycling expertise to meet your needs, such as:

1. Material Evaluation

Quincy Recycle has a team of recycling experts who can evaluate your waste streams and design tailored recycling solutions for your organization. We understand the unique challenges different industries face and can guide you in optimizing your recycling processes.

2. Comprehensive Recycling Services

Whether you need assistance with single-stream recycling, document destruction, or specialized recycling of specific industrial materials, Quincy Recycle has you covered. We offer a wide range of recycling services to meet your needs and help you focus on your core business operations.

3. Transparent Reporting

We believe in transparency. You will receive detailed reporting on the volumes and types of materials collected, suggestions on waste stream management, and updates on how to continue achieving your circular economy goals.

4. Long-Term Collaboration

Lasting relationships with our partners are a driving force behind what we do. We are committed to continuously improving our recycling services and working closely with you to meet your circular economy goals. Our dedicated team of recycling experts will be with you every step of the way.

Are you interested in creating a Sustainability Plan? We can help.

We have helped industrial and manufacturing companies make a positive impact on the future of our planet. From waste reduction and cost savings to promoting sustainable supply chains and environmental stewardship, we have the expertise and resources to help you achieve your circular economy goals.

Contact Quincy Recycle today at 800.311.6097  and let us be your trusted partner in industrial recycling. Together, we can create a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Employee Spotlight: Kyle Howell

When our leaders embody our Core Values, they help lift up everyone around them. That is certainly the case with Kyle Howell. He is a shining example of putting the values front and center. General Manager Michael Malloy says of Kyle, “He has grown with Quincy Recycle from a shift supervisor to Operations manager because of his hard work, determination to win and his continuous dedication to learning. He has built a great team around him and is always focused on our core values. ” Thank you for continuing to be a great example, Kyle!

When did you start with Quincy Recycle?

May 2021

What was your job title when you started?

Plant Supervisor

What is your current title?

Operations Manager

If you had to pick one, which Core Value is your favorite and why?

Alive & Well Being in operations the biggest win I can have every day is getting my team home safe to their families. I can’t just talk safety; I need to live it through my actions.

What was the most challenging thing to learn in your roles?

Managing the person and not the job. Every person needs managed in the way that will help them succeed.

What was the most surprising or fun thing to learn?

Marketing material has been a challenging but fun thing to learn. Connecting with other people that want to provide sustainability has helped my team provide the best waste management solutions to our vendors.

What’s your favorite part about working at Quincy Recycle?

Being able to teach people about the benefits of recycling and coaching them on the best ways to provide sustainability to their business.

What would you like prospective employees to know about Quincy Recycle?

We treat our team members like people, not numbers. We genuinely want people to succeed and work diligently to help them to achieve their goals.

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

I enjoy being outdoors and spending time with my friends and family. I’ve picked up golfing the last few years and enjoy the challenges that come with it. I will occasionally play recreational baseball and ice hockey when available.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever read or received?

Stop saying you don’t have time and start saying it’s not a priority. You will make time for things that are a priority. If someone says they don’t have time what I hear is it’s not a big enough priority yet.

If you had to pick a song to portray the culture of Quincy Recycle, what would it be and why?

Avicii- The Nights. Make a positive impact everywhere you go. Live life to the fullest and live a life people will remember!!