Quincy Recycle Attends 2020 Plastics Recycling Conference
Back in February, a few members from our team attended the 2020 Plastics Recycling Conference and Trade Show in Nashville, TN. It was an amazing few days and we want to share some of the highlights from this year’s conference.
Pictured (Left to Right): Eric Savage, Derek Howell, and Nathan Norden
First, a bit of background on what this conference is all about.
The annual Plastics Recycling Conference and Trade Show brings together reclaimers, manufacturers, government officials and other leading sustainability voices from around the world. There are panel discussions and Q&A’s, a massive exhibit hall, and countless opportunities to learn, connect and network with industry leaders.
The main focus this year was on the future of the plastics recycling industry.
For years the U.S. has sent millions of tons of plastics to China. However, in January 2018, China essentially banned imported recyclable materials as part of the “National Sword” policy. The move by China is prompting a lot of thought and innovation here at home. More and more companies are investing in sustainability and other closed-looped recycling systems.
For example, packaging manufacturers, such as those who make plastic water bottles are starting to think more about what goes into their products. They know it’s important that more of their products be recyclable. With that in mind, they are working closely with bottled water manufacturers who use their products as they strive to produce more sustainable packaging solutions. That’s just one example. These important discussions and partnerships are happening across the industry!
Another hot topic at this year’s event was collections.
This is an area of the business that there tends to be a lot of confusion about, especially with consumers. Many of us simply throw our recyclable goods into a mixed-commodity container and leave it at the curb each collection day. Those goods are sorted later at a recycling facility before they can be processed. It is a convenient system for consumers, but it requires significant time and energy to sort these items. This has motivated many in the industry to start thinking more about the collection process and look for ways to make it more efficient in the future.
“We recognized early on that providing mixed-commodity collections for our customers was important. For commercial manufacturers looking to reduce their waste stream, sorting can be a huge and often overwhelming task. It was great to see and hear that so many people in the industry are aligning and starting to look for more outside the box solutions. Awareness is spreading and positive change is coming!” – Derek Howell, Quincy Recycle
Why are conferences like this important to Quincy Recycle and our customers?
With our Plastic Recycling services continuing to expand and grow, it was important for us to be a part of this great event to explore and learn about new trends in the recycling industry. We gain valuable insight into how what we are doing compares to other industry leaders. These conferences help drive positive change and Quincy Recycle is committed to playing a major role.
There was so much to see and do at this year’s conference. We had a great time connecting with many of our existing partners while also having the opportunity to expand our network. Our team is excited about all of the forward-thinking and innovation taking place in the industry. Great things are coming!
Want to learn more about how Quincy Recycle can help you solve your waste stream problems?
We offer a wide variety of services designed to meet your specific needs. Contact us today and together we can make an impact.
Searching for Product Destruction Companies? Ask These 5 Important Questions
If you’re looking at different product destruction companies, there are a handful of key questions you should ask to determine which is the best fit for your needs.
First, let’s get a clear understanding of why product destruction services are important.
Why are product destruction services needed?
Whether it’s excess, obsolete, or proprietary products – packaging with a misprinted logo, faulty food products, or unwanted branded items of any kind – product destruction services are a smart way for businesses of all types to tactfully dissociate their brand from an unwanted product or material. When done properly, this important service allows businesses to better protect their market share, manage liability, and ensure airtight brand protection.
At Quincy Recycle, we’ve handled production destruction for everything from holiday candy wrappers and soap to diapers, office furniture, medical devices, and even jars of mayonnaise (because nobody wants green mayonnaise).
Can’t I just send those products to the landfill?
Think you can just dump that product or packaging in the trash and forget about it? Not so fast. By simply disposing at a landfill, you run the risk of that product getting into the wrong hands. And it just takes one incident to completely reshape how customers and stakeholders view your brand and business operations. The assurance you get from trustworthy, certified product destruction is invaluable for your brand image and future marketplace endeavors.
Now that you know how critical secure product destruction services are, here are the 5 most important questions you should ask product destruction companies before trusting them with your priceless reputation.
1. Does the product destruction company provide a letter of destruction with every job?
When you hire a product destruction company, you need (and deserve) to know that the job was done fully and properly. There is no room for loose ends. A letter of destruction is documented proof that the job was done according to your exact requirements. This holds the product destruction company responsible and also protects you against third-party liability. At Quincy Recycle, we provide you with a certified letter of destruction for every job. In it, we tell you exactly when, where, and how your product was destroyed, as well as where the destroyed product went.
2. Do they also offer witness and recorded destruction execution?
Sometimes, additional measures are needed to unequivocally prove a product was properly destroyed. This could be in the form of a 3rd party witness being present for the destruction or having the entire destruction process videotaped. Whatever product destruction documentation measures your business needs, Quincy Recycle is ready to provide the exact level of transparency and documentation that you need to fully protect your brand.
3. Do they offer custom services and alternatives to product destruction?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to product destruction services. Instead, product destruction companies should seek to understand the unique needs of your business and tailor their services to ensure those needs are met. At Quincy Recycle, our team of friendly professionals works with you to develop a plan that fully addresses your unique needs and benefits you in the best way possible. We’re happy to pick up right where another product destruction company left off, or we can help find alternative solutions for products that are no longer needed. This could mean finding new outlets to sell your destroyed or unwanted products and materials, potentially reducing costs and improving your impact on the earth.
4. Do they have a nationwide network and decades of experience?
In today’s interconnected world, having access to a large nationwide network allows for a more rapid and cost-effective service. At Quincy Recycle we have the ability to provide secure product destruction services from coast to coast, all while maintaining centralized support and a single point of contact. Plus, with over 45 years of experience, you can rest assured that we have the knowledge and hands-on experience to professionally handle anything that comes our way. All in all, Quincy Recycle has the infrastructure and experience to effectively execute product destruction services all across the country.
5. Do they act with integrity and put your brand’s protection above all else?
It sounds simple, but this is truly the most important question to consider when choosing a product destruction company. Your reputation is on the line, so you need a company that will act with integrity and does the right thing at all times. At Quincy Recycle, we’re a group of dedicated and integrity-filled individuals. In fact, one of our guiding core values here is “Act with Integrity“. It’s more than words on a wall; it’s how we hire, how we train, and how we operate each and every day. We will always do the right thing over choosing short-term gain.
“The most important part for us is that trust is established and everyone’s expectations are met. We listen carefully to customer needs and seek to understand their big-picture goals in order to be an effective and beneficial long-term partner.”
– Justin Routh, Quincy Recycle St. Louis General Manager.
Start with a Conversation
The best way to gauge product destruction companies is to have a conversation and get a feel for the way they communicate and operate. If you’re interested in a free product destruction consultation, give us a call. Together we’ll create custom product destruction solutions that meet your unique needs and ensure your market share, liability, and brand identity are fully protected.
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Team Spotlight: Opportunity, Ownership, & Optical Sorting in Quincy, IL
Quincy, Illinois – home to beautiful riverboat views of the Mississippi River, the Adams County Courthouse, and Quincy Recycle’s very first plant (yes, it’s how we got our name).
Since this plant first opened in 1974, Quincy Recycle’s services and nationwide reach have expanded considerably. But the success and positive impact produced by the Quincy, IL team has remained steady. In fact, this group of dedicated individuals continues to be one of the most efficient and tightly-knit teams out of all Quincy Recycle locations across the country.
So, what’s the secret behind the success? And who’s leading the charge at the inaugural Quincy Recycle location these days?
Q&A with the Quincy, IL Leadership Team
We recently caught up with three key leaders at the Quincy, Illinois location to understand more about the people, the capabilities, and the values that are driving success there, plus the opportunity available to Quincy Recycle employees. Here are the biggest takeaways.
Elizabeth, Business Development
1. What do you like most about working at the Quincy, IL location?
One of the things I enjoy the most is the number of different commodities that we handle. We get into some really unique and fun material streams. The Quincy facility is also unique due to the optical sort line. The optical sort line allows QRP to bring in commingled post-consumer plastics, sort and process them. The machine works by using lasers and air compressors to sort and separate the different types of plastics into different piles.
2. What’s one thing you or your team did this month that you’re proud of?
We developed a relationship with a brand new mill for Quincy Recycle. I love being able to expand our offerings to our vendors, and new mills allow us to offer more options to the folks we work with.
3. What is the one thing you’d like prospective employees to know about the company?
Be all in. If you commit to your job, be tenacious about learning it and own it. You are guaranteed success.
4. Which Quincy Recycle core value resonates with you the most?
Commit, be tenacious, and compete to win.
Kyle, General Manager
1. What do you like most about working at the Quincy, IL location?
The Quincy, IL team, like our other teams, has hardworking, talented people throughout. Whether it’s in the plant, the office, or on the road seeing business vendors or customers, each employee is focused on making our operation safe, efficient & accurate, and improving the business of our partners. It’s great to be a part of the team.
2. What’s one thing you’d like prospective employees to know about the company?
You can be successful here! I know it’s true because there are so many people that have found success in different ways. No one person knows it all and, most importantly, no one pretends to! There are so many paths, the next new path we never thought of might be the one you bring to the team! You’ll have a team to support you the whole way!
3. Which Quincy Recycle core value resonates with you the most?
They truly do all mean a lot. One Team, One Dream, One Family has especially shined over the past couple of years. Some real challenges – not business or market-related challenges that happen all the time, but real life-altering occurrences – have arisen, and our team really sticks together, helps each other out, supports, and grows. What a team!
Lucie, Operations Manager
1. What do you like most about working at the Quincy, IL location?
Every day is something new. After 3 years in this role, I still learn so much from my employees. This location is unique because of the optical sort line, which saves our recyclers precious time and space. The optical sort line sorts mixed post-consumer bottles and separates those from PET and HD. Watching that thing operate successfully makes me happier than it should…it’s the little things in life.
2. What’s one thing you’d like prospective employees to know about the company?
I promise you that this company will take care of you if you help take care of them. I started here five years ago as an Account and Logistics Coordinator staring out my window into the plant and thinking, “those guys need a kickass leader”. A little over a year and a half into that job I was promoted to be just that.
3. What is your favorite part about working at Quincy Recycle overall?
My favorite thing about working for this company is EVERYONE BELIEVES IN ME! They believe in me when it’s going great and even more so when it’s rough. This team challenges me to be great every single day. That is a gift.
4. Which Quincy Recycle core value resonates with you the most?
Gosh, it just depends on the day. I would say for my role it would have to be Alive and Well. My first priority here is to keep everyone safe. Every single one of us has someone outside of here that cares about our well-being, and I am in charge of making sure that they work in an environment that brings peace to those loved ones.
Work with (or for) the best commercial recycling and waste stream solutions partner in the Midwest
Our Quincy, IL location is centrally located along the Mississippi River, with easy access to Interstate highways, barge, and rail transport. Our service area extends downriver to St. Louis, upriver to the Quad Cities, throughout Illinois and Missouri.
In addition to fiber and plastic recycling, the Quincy, IL facility deals with food waste, metal recycling, and secure product destruction.
Quincy Farm Products works with food manufacturers to take human-grade food byproducts and convert them into high-quality livestock feed and feed ingredients.
We’d like to help you with your waste stream problems or talk with you about the career opportunities available at Quincy Recycle – contact us today!
Closed Loop Economy: What does it mean and how does it work?
If you’re not already thinking about how your company can start integrating into the closed-loop economy model, you’re behind the curve.
Commonly referred to as the “circular economy”, this increasingly popular framework for the procurement, creation, and consumption of goods and materials is estimated to be worth $4.5 trillion globally by 2030. On a micro-level, the methodical transition to a closed-loop supply chain could provide your business with substantial long-term savings, less reliance on external suppliers, a positive public perception, and increased customer loyalty. On a macro level, the closed-loop economic model can increase jobs and innovation, the security of raw material supply, consumer savings, and reduce damaging pressures on the environment.
Before diving into the details of how this modern economic framework for increased commercial sustainability and efficiency works, let’s gain a clear understanding of what the closed-loop economic model is.
What is a closed-loop economy?
Whether the term you’ve heard is closed-loop economy, circular economy, closed-loop supply chain, or closed-loop system – it’s all essentially describing the same thing.
A closed-loop economy is an economic model in which no waste is generated; everything is shared, repaired, reused, or recycled. What would traditionally be considered “waste” is instead turned into a valuable resource for the creation of something new.
How the closed-loop economy works
A closed-loop economy is essentially the result of multiple companies operating on a closed-loop supply chain. This requires an intelligent reimagining of how products (and packaging) are designed, manufactured, sold, refurbished, and recycled. At Quincy Recycle, we have a large nationwide recycling and reuse network, so we are constantly buying and selling recycled materials for businesses across the nation. When more businesses join the network loop, more material is saved, and costs are reduced even further.
Right now, most companies operate according to the linear economy model. Raw materials are extracted and then supplied to manufacturers for the design and creation of products. These products are then consumed and disposed of by other companies or individuals. Most material is wasted, little is saved. Then, this finite process starts over from square one (as long as there is access to more raw materials).
image courtesy of Closed Loop Partners
On the other hand, the closed-loop circular economy is, well, a circle. It has no end, and therefore it has no waste. After consumption, the materials are collected and reprocessed into raw materials that are ready for manufacturing.
image courtesy of Closed Loop Partners
The big benefit of circular economies
Large consumer goods companies are beginning to realize that if they develop these circular supply chains, they can reduce manufacturing costs and provide consumers with more sustainable products. Also, governments are noticing how local recycling and closed-loop economies reduce municipal waste budgets, generate revenue, and drive local job creation.
By starting the transitions to a closed-loop economy now, you’ll have an advantage over your competition, serve as a model in your industry, and perhaps even help shape future regulation.
How to get started in the closed-loop economy
Quincy Recycle is expertly equipped to help organizations shift toward the closed-loop economic model. First, we will provide a detailed zero-waste audit outlining current processes and areas for opportunity. Then, we work hand-in-hand with you to develop a closed-loop plan that meets your unique goals. With over 45 years of experience, Quincy Recycle is the trusted partner you want in your transition to the closed-loop economic model. Together, we can align the interests of individuals, municipalities, industry, and the environment we all share.
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