Service Highlight: Collections and Logistics
At Quincy Recycle, we strive to be a one-stop-shop solution to our customers and vendors. Our Collections and Logistics services help us achieve that goal and ensures we are providing the best service levels to our partners throughout each step of the recycling process.
What is Collections and Logistics?
In the recycling industry and particularly here at Quincy Recycle, we often “spot trailers” at our vendor’s facilities. That simply means we park an empty trailer at our partner’s loading dock for them to fill with their scrap material, such as plastics and metals. Once the trailer is full, a driver comes and hooks up to the trailer and hauls it away to one of our locations to be sorted and processed. Pretty simple, right? It may seem that way, but managing collections and logistics can present certain challenges.
In the past, we’ve primarily outsourced the collections process to local carriers. But, back in 2015, we started to ask ourselves if there was a better way to handle this part of our business. While we have many great relationships with local carrier partners, we would often find ourselves lacking control over certain aspects of the process. Things like scheduling, vehicle maintenance, and customer service standards were out of our hands. Those are all factors that can make or break the customer service experience for our partners.
Ultimately, we decided that to deliver consistent and reliable service that we’d need to take control of collections and logistics. So, five years ago in our St. Louis, MO location, QRP Logistics was born.
Why is controlling the collections process so important?
It’s easy to forget that the most frequent interactions our partners have with Quincy Recycle are with the drivers who pick up the trailers from their facilities. Those drivers are an extension of our business. They represent Quincy Recycle and who better to represent us than our own employees.
Our drivers are full-time employees at Quincy Recycle. They are part of our team and understand our business and are aligned with our vision and core values. When they show up to a vendor facility, they are in a branded Quincy Recycle truck cab, wearing a Quincy Recycle uniform, and provide a service experience consistent with the rest of our organization.
By taking back control of the process, we’ve been able to make the collections process more efficient and more reliable for our partners. Some key benefits include:
- Flexible pickup scheduling with the ability to offer 24-hour turnaround vendor pickup requests.
- Our drivers are part of the team and they know our business. They can often help solve problems on the spot, should they arise.
- Keeping the process in-house allows us to maintain competitive freight and material pricing.
- Consistent and reliable service experiences every time our driver is at your facility.
QRP Logistics – Past, Present, and Future
We already touched on how our in-house collections and logistics service began in St. Louis, MO back in 2015. Since then it has expanded into additional locations including West Bend, WI and Alsip, IL. Most recently we launched QRP Logistics at our Cedar Rapids, IA location. The results have been extremely positive so far and they’re already looking to add additional trucks and drivers to the mix to help keep up with the workload demands.
“It’s allowed us to provide great customer service. Our drivers interact with contacts at vendor facilities regularly and having them be Quincy Recycle employees is invaluable.” – Chad Crawford (General Manager – Cedar Rapids, IA)
QRP Logistics has allowed us to achieve greater alignment across our organization and our services offerings. In the end, it’s simple. We want to provide the absolute highest level of customer service possible. QRP Logistics helps us to achieve that goal and is something we’ll continue to invest in and grow. It’s an important component of our service offering and one that allows us to be the one-stop-shop solution our partners are looking for.
Are you interested in learning more about Quincy Recycle?
Quincy Recycle solves complex waste stream problems for manufacturers and other industrial supplies. We have an expansive service network spanning from coast-to-coast. Contact us today if you’re ready to take the first step towards achieving your sustainability goals.
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And, check out our About Us page for company background and our Careers page for information on how to join our team.
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.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for the latest in industry news, commercial sustainability information, employee spotlights, and more!
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.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for the latest in industry news, product destruction information, employee spotlights, and more!