The Importance Of Safety In The Recycling Industry
At Quincy Recycle, safety is one of our top priorities. Recycling may not be one of the first industries that come to mind when you think about jobs with a high risk to health and safety. But, did you ever stop and think about the types of materials collected and sorted?
In their most recent report published in December 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics rated the recycling industry as the 5th most dangerous in America. Today we will talk about why safety is so important to us by highlighting some of the common health and safety risks associated with the recycling industry and how we address them in our facilities.
5 Common Health and Safety Risks in Recycling
1. Large and Moving Machinery
Processing large quantities of plastic, metal, and other recyclable materials requires big machinery. Compactors, balers, conveyor belts, and sorting machines are regular fixtures in recycling plants. All of these can cause injury if adequate operating and maintenance procedures are not put in place.
Robust safety protocols and checklists are in place across all Quincy Recycle locations. Equipment is inspected regularly and when maintenance or repair is required, a “lock-out and tag-out” protocol is strictly enforced to ensure the machinery is in proper working order before being put back into service. From their first day of employment, each member of our team goes through extensive safety and operator training. Training is ongoing and takes place on a regular and frequent basis at each of our facilities.
2. Trucks and Other Big Vehicles
In order to haul and move large loads of material, you need trucks, forklifts and other big vehicles. Any time you have large vehicles in the same place as pedestrians you have a safety risk.
Operator awareness is a top priority at Quincy Recycle. From training to operator certifications, we make sure anyone operating a large vehicle at our facility is qualified and adhering to necessary safety protocols. We also utilize tools like glad hand locks. Trailers come and go from our facilities all the time and a glad hand lock prevents a truck from hooking up to the trailer while someone is inside working.
3. Repetitive Motion
Recycling workers move a lot. They reach, twist, jump, and bend to sort and process items daily. The absence of a well-organized and ergonomic workspace can lead to injury over time.
We spend a lot of time training and promoting best safety practices at Quincy Recycle, and that includes steps to prevent injury due to repetitive motion. Our plants are designed with a layout to help our team members be as efficient as possible, which goes a long way in helping keep them safe and injury-free.
4. Respiratory Hazards
Recyclable materials produce a lot of dust. Without proper safety equipment and ventilation, small particles from materials we process such as paper, plastic, cardboard, and other contaminants can pose harm to workers.
Quincy Recycle provides all employees with dust masks and safety glasses to protect against airborne contaminants. In addition, our facilities are outfitted with air ventilation systems to help remove dust from the air key locations throughout the plant.
5. Biohazards
Sorting through mixed-commodity loads presents some risks. Sharp objects, industrial chemicals, and other biohazards can be present and must be handled carefully to avoid injury.
We take a proactive approach to make sure we know exactly what is coming into our facilities. Utilizing safety data sheets, our team can confirm the former contents of products such as fiber or plastic drums to ensure nothing comes into the plant that shouldn’t. We also provide our team with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to help keep them safe when handling the wide variety of material that comes through our plants each day. Along with PPE, you’ll also find first-aid and bloodborne pathogen kits in each of our facilities.
Quincy Recycle Promotes A Safety-Focused Culture
Safety is part of our culture at Quincy Recycle. In fact, it is one of our core values. We don’t take the risks associated with our industry lightly and have put a lot of time and energy into making sure our facilities are safe.
“It starts at the top. Everyone across our organization is fully committed to running a safe operation. Our first core value is “Alive and Well” because safety is part of everything we do at Quincy Recycle. Many of our facilities boast lengthy safety records which is a real testament to the buy-in and dedication from everyone on the team.” – Philip J. Hildebrand, Jr., Quincy Recycle
Why is this so important?
To us, it’s simple – our team is our family. Keeping them safe is our first priority. And, in turn, our commitment to health and safety allows us to provide consistent service our partners can depend on whenever they need us.
Are you ready to take the first step toward achieving your sustainability goals?
Contact us today and together we can make an impact. We offer a wide variety of services designed to meet your specific needs.
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Employee Spotlight: Hannah Hauk
“Hannah is fearless in reaching out to brand-new customers to foster new relationships,” said Indianapolis GM Michael Malloy. That’s why the Core Value he associates with Hannah is “Be Courageous and Try It”. “Hannah focuses on keeping our plant safe by expediting our tons off the floor. Anytime you challenge her to do more or a new role, she is always willing to try it and make it her task.” It’s easy to see why Hannah has become such an asset to the Quincy Recycle Team!
When did you start with Quincy Recycle?
September 13th 2021
What was your job title when you started?
Account Logistics Coordinator
What is your current title?
Account Logistics Coordinator/ Sales Coordinator
If you had to pick one, which Core Value is your favorite and why?
“Commit, be tenacious, and compete to win” is my favorite core value because I believe in going the extra mile to achieve your personal goals and create a win for the whole team as well.
What was the most challenging thing to learn in your roles?
The most challenging thing to learn was how to navigator the computer program for our data keeping.
What was the most surprising or fun thing to learn?
The most surprising and fun thing to learn about Quincy Recycle was the amount of waste that is actually created on the industrial level and all the different processes of production for recyclables.
What’s your favorite part about working at Quincy Recycle?
My favorite part about working at Quincy Recycle is the ability to take ownership of your role and expand your knowledge freely.
What would you like prospective employees to know about Quincy Recycle?
Quincy Recycle is a wonderfully cultured work environment full of plenty of opportunity to grow and achieve success.
What are some of your hobbies outside of work?
Some of my hobbies include; going out to eat, going to festivals, spending time outdoors, or spending time with my family and friends.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever read or received?
The best piece of advice I have received was “Worry about the things you can control, not what you can’t”
If you had to pick a song to portray the culture of Quincy Recycle, what would it be and why?
Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves because at the end of the day there are no mistakes.
Secure Unboxing, Shredding, & Recycling for Print Materials
Boxes of unused or confidential print materials don’t only take up space; they’re also a liability.
So what do you do with paper and print materials that can’t be thrown away? When it comes to disposing of your print materials, security is a priority.
Quincy Recycle can safely and securely shred your bulk print materials and books, so you don’t have to worry about sensitive or obsolete information getting into the wrong hands. Our facilities have state-of-the-art shredding equipment specially designed to shred paper, cardboard, and even hardcover books. We work with various industries to ensure their products and paper waste are properly safeguarded and destroyed throughout our entire waste management process.
Businesses around the country trust us to handle their waste streams. Let’s take a look at a few of the mass-production industries that commonly partner with Quincy Recycle for secure unboxing, shredding, and recycling services.
Education Industry
Testing materials, misprinted booklets, and obsolete educational materials aren’t items you want floating back into the market. When these materials aren’t properly shredded or destroyed, they can be unethically used or sold back to consumers.
Quincy Recycles handles the unboxing, shredding, and recycling of educational materials to ensure they’re properly destroyed and disposed of in a sustainable manner. Companies that manufacture these materials are ideal partners for us because we can handle thousands of pounds of paper waste at a time. Our trucks and secure processes ensure that your bulk print waste that is no longer meant for the consumer market never makes it back into circulation.
Wholesale Industry
Wholesalers often find themselves storing old marketing materials, outdated product catalogs, and unsold magazines or books.
As these materials accumulate into a significant volume of waste, they begin to take up valuable warehouse space. Materials with product prices or sensitive information can’t be thrown away. Wholesalers rely on Quincy Recycle for secure unboxing and shredding of confidential materials.
Our goal is to provide our customers with hassle-free waste stream management. Convenient pickup and drop-off times are scheduled to accommodate schedules as much as possible. Your team won’t need to unbox any of the print material before it makes its way to us. Our customers have the peace of mind knowing that their materials are securely unboxed and destroyed all in the same facility.
Publishing Companies
Publishing companies handle a wide variety of print materials, many of which may contain sensitive or proprietary information. Misprints, damaged books, overstock books, and proofs and test prints can accumulate into large quantities of paper waste over time.
When these materials are no longer needed, they must be disposed of in a secure and confidential manner. Product destruction prevents any potential data breaches or unauthorized distribution of content. Large publishing companies without a secure channel for waste management are vulnerable to content leaks, potentially threatening future revenue and brand integrity.
Secure product destruction ensures these items are completely destroyed. This prevents them from entering unauthorized channels and protects the publisher’s brand and intellectual property rights. Bulk trademarked or copyrighted materials are commonly sent to Quincy Recycle for complete unboxing, shredding, and recycling services.
Why You Should Partner with Quincy Recycle for Unboxing, Shredding, and Recycling
At Quincy Recycle, we have spent nearly fifty years establishing partnerships with education, publishing, and bulk paper waste companies across the nation. Our customers trust us to handle, destroy, dispose, and recycle their sensitive print materials.
Not all industrial recycling companies are created equally. We strive to provide the highest quality and most secure product destruction services available on the market. From the moment the excess print material arrives to our facility, it is expertly handled, unboxed, shredded, and baled until it is safely loaded on a truck and on its way to a paper mill.
Don’t see your industry listed?
Reach out to us! Quincy Recycle has helped a variety of companies reduce waste, streamline operations, and generate new revenue opportunities.
Employee Spotlight: Michael Beal
This month’s Employee Spotlight features Michael Beal, an operator at our Quincy plant. “Michael embraces our Core Value, One Team, One Dream, One Family, by gladly accepting whatever the day brings him. He is a hard worker and is happy to pivot from one role to another as needs arise at the plant,” says Kyle Venvertloh, General Manager. Since starting with the company, he has learned the ins and outs of the plastic sort line, safely rotating Gaylords of plastic or paper, and running our IPS baler. Kyle adds, “He’s always pleasant to be around and enjoys engaging with all team members with an attitude of “whatever the team needs today” and a smile.” Quincy’s Operation Manager, Lucie Spohr, describes him as “Everything I want in a teammate on the floor. He’s ambitious, respectful, and ready to tackle anything that comes his way. I am met with positivity each morning, and we end the day with immense appreciation and feelings of accomplishment. Michael loves this company and watching it grow so much that he recruits reliable employees to join our team.”
When did you start with Quincy Recycle?
March 2022
What was your job title when you started?
Line Sorter/ Laborer
What is your current title?
Machine Operator
If you had to pick one, which Core Value is your favorite?
One Team. One Dream. One Family.
What was the most challenging thing to learn in your roles?
The different names of the products.
What was the most surprising or fun thing to learn?
How to work heavy machinery.
What’s your favorite part about working at Quincy Recycle?
That I learn something new everyday about the company.
What would you like prospective employees to know about Quincy Recycle?
It’s a nice, safe place to work that will help you get your life together.
What are some of your hobbies outside of work?
Working out & playing basketball.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever read or received?
Never think that you know it all. Always be willing to learn.
If you had to pick a song to portray the culture of Quincy Recycle, what would it be?
We Are the World by U.S.A. for Africa