Single-stream recycling enables consumers to toss all relevant recyclables into one container. Glass, aluminum, plastic, paper, and cardboard can co-mingle and prepare to go to a much better place than in the packed, local landfill. Haulers pick up the materials and drop them off at our Material Recycling Facility, where they start their new journey. After initial hand-sorting, the pieces go through a high-tech conveyor system that moves materials through stations for efficient sorting. The cohesive technology uses optical material identification, magnetism, and forced air for segregation. If you watch the end of the process, you can even witness aluminum cans jumping off the conveyor into their unique bin, thanks to the application of an electrical current. With innovation, automation, and even electrical current, recycling looks very different today.

Thanks to effective and efficient processing, materials can be swiftly compacted together, bound, stacked, and stored. But the 1300-pound bundles don’t stay idle for long. The professional commodity brokers at Midwest Fiber Recycling have long-term relationships with recycling mills throughout the Midwest and the country. Materials are immediately sold and shipped, where they are typically made into like-new recycled products we enjoy daily. Those plastic bottles never knew they would one day become our back deck; however, we all had the vision.

Industries of all types have greatly benefited from the efficiency of modern recycling. From manufacturing plants to service industries, we can conduct hands-on waste assessments and use decades of expertise to determine how companies can reduce costs and prove their pro-environment commitment. And, thanks to software that calculates every pound, penny, and recycled product, organizations get paid for their efforts. We engage customers in real-time recycling, where a portal provides immediate access to shipping, payment, and pricing data. One can instantly evaluate efforts, generate specific reports, and even see what specific impact efforts have had on the environment. For example, you’ll be able to know exactly how many trees your efforts have saved. What a great message to send on a holiday card next year. On second thought, hold the card and send it via email. All actions matter in our environmentally conscious community of consumers.

We hope the IBM alliance develops a new alloy to quickly melt plastics into a 100% recyclable liquid. And we are sure all the sea creatures are also behind their efforts. In the meantime, single-stream recycling makes it easy for individuals and profitable for industry. As a result, participation on all levels has increased, and efforts divert tremendous amounts of materials from landfills.

With three decades of service, we’ve seen enormous, positive change in our industry. What has not changed is that modern-day recycling efforts require old-fashioned teamwork. We thank all those who contribute materials to our center, the mills we partner with to sell materials, and the dedicated staff who process, sell, and transport our materials. We look forward to continued service and industry advancements that may make recycling even more convenient for consumers and advantageous for the environment.

The post Recycling Today: Modern Methods & Means appeared first on Midwest Fiber.

We didn’t talk about core values when Midwest Fiber Recycling was founded over 30 years ago.   There was just a belief to provide exceptional customer service, never say “NO” before first exhausting all options, and treat customers fairly.

While those principles still hold true today, over the years, the team at Midwest Fiber has been able to take those same beliefs and put them in our core values to be shared with all. These values and beliefs have propelled Midwest Fiber to a multiple-state recycling operation and a growing brokerage division marketing material in over 23 states

Walk in their shoes

• At Midwest Fiber, we put ourselves in our customer’s shoes when making decisions.
• We use empathy and concern for others to dictate our actions and make sure that we’re making choices that are in our clients’ best interests.
• It also means that our team is willing to do whatever is necessary to get the job done. And we’re team players, so whether we’re called on to lead or assist, we’re always ready to jump in.
• We know this only works when we put our own self-interest aside and work for the greater good of our organization and our clients. Sometimes that means we look at things from someone else’s perspective because looking at things differently can change the entire picture.

Climb the Mountain

• A mountain climber sees an obstacle and is determined to find a way around it, and so do we.
• Just like the climber, we’re constantly looking for the best way to the top, even if it’s different from our original plan.
• Mountain climbers will encounter many things that are out of their control, rain, wind, snow, or a fallen tree. They can’t control the weather or the mountain, but they can control their attitude.
• That same attitude of flexibility and humility will inevitably help us serve our clients and help them reach their goals.
• We emulate the mountain climber when we take the experiences and learn from them. And like the mountain climber, we may have to take a calculated risk to reach our goal.

Create Steam

• At 211°, water is exceedingly hot. But at 212°, it boils and becomes steam.
• That one degree of difference creates enough energy to run a train, generate power, and produce electricity.
• We are always looking at how we can give just a little extra to get that extra degree.

Pure Play Recycler

At Midwest Fiber, our leadership understands that having no ownership in a landfill makes us different than others. It means that building a recycling program that benefits your bottom line makes us successful. Our industry knowledge and experience and multiple processing facilities allow us to offer unparalleled service. All of that leads to more success for our customers.

Interested in how our core values can work in your favor? Contact the experts at Midwest Fiber. Experience customer service at its finest and get started with our Proven Process today.

Direct to Mill

One of the benefits of working with Midwest Fiber is our five processing facilities. Because of the volume of materials we process, we can send the commodities directly to the mills, skipping third-party brokers and getting our customers the best return. When you combine your specialized recycling program with our bulk selling power, your bottom line benefits.

Contact our team to learn more!

The post Core Values appeared first on Midwest Fiber.

Over the past several blogs, the Midwest Fiber newsletter has presented a three-part series on our Proven Process. Today, we’ll walk you through each step to help you understand the strategy and philosophy behind what makes our business work and our customers successful in their recycling programs. In past blogs, we covered the first three steps of the Midwest Fiber Proven Process, analysis and alignment, and adoption. The final step is account and client management.

Part 3: Account and Client Management

Recycling programs are not set it and forget it. At Midwest Fiber, we have to keep up with industry changes. We also stay on top of any changes our customers go through. That’s why the account management part of our proven process is so critical. Our experts will work with our clients to set up regular meetings to review your program and discuss any adjustments that need to be made. We’ll do an overall annual review to make sure that everything is running smoothly. We’ll also audit your recycling loads annually to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your program.

Along with managing your program, we also manage the materials from your business. We’ll look at your pick-up schedule and your payments and reporting to make sure all details are on track. And we’ll also make sure we know if you have any new materials to add to your recycling program or if recent advancements make existing materials recyclable.

One of the reasons that Midwest Fiber customers are so successful is that our team of experts walks with you every step of the way. Our goal is to be proactive so that your business always gets the most out of your recycling program.

Are you looking to re-evaluate your recycling program? Contact the experts at Midwest Fiber and get started with our Proven Process today.

Recycling Advantages for Businesses

We know that recycling is good for the planet – but there are a lot of benefits to businesses beyond positive environmental impact. More and more, the government is incentivizing green initiatives. Maybe there is a tax credit available for your business if you recycle – or maybe there will be in the future. You can get a jump on things by creating a recycling program now to take advantage of current benefits and beat the rush if future initiatives become available.

Don’t forget to let us know how we’re doing by leaving a Google or Facebook review!

The post Our Proven Process: Account and Client Management appeared first on Midwest Fiber.

Midwest Fiber Recycling continues to invest in it’s recycling facilities throughout the Midwest.  

MRF Mondernazation

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Over the following several blogs, the Midwest Fiber newsletter will present a three-part series on our proven recycling process. We’ll walk you through each step to help you understand the strategy and philosophy behind what makes our business work and our customers successful in their recycling programs.

In the last newsletter, we covered the first two steps of the Midwest Fiber Proven Process, Analysis, and Alignment. You can read it here. 

Step 3 – Adoption

The third step is “Adoption.” Once the agreement is in place, it’s time to get your new recycling program rolling. This includes delivering and installing any new equipment and complete training for your employees. This ensures the equipment is used correctly and safely. We’ll also instruct your team on any new or adjusted steps in your recycling process.

Along with training, your company will also be assigned an account manager. This person is your main point of contact at Midwest Fiber. Your account manager will be there to ensure from the start that your program is running effectively and the way it was designed. They’ll also be on hand to audit your first load and give you ongoing feedback to make sure your program continues to operate efficiently to maximize value and minimize labor.

One of the great benefits of working with Midwest Fiber is our customer portal. The portal is a real-time, 24/7 access point to the success of your program. Here, you can track your progress in what’s being recycled at your business, what the environmental impact is, shipping details, financial details, and more.

You can also use the portal to run and share reports on load details, statuses, contract terms, and more for further analysis. Our completely secure portal is only available to Midwest Fiber partners.

Are you looking to re-evaluate your recycling program? Contact the experts at Midwest Fiber and get started with our Proven Process today.

Recycling Advantages for Businesses

We know that recycling is good for the planet – but there are a lot of benefits to businesses beyond positive environmental impact. Have you considered how your environmental stewardship will benefit employee retention? Particularly in the up-and-coming generations, employees want to know that their places of business are doing what they can to be good guardians. This includes trying to offset the carbon footprint created by their company. Recycling goes a long way in reducing your footprint and creating a positive image of your business. It also helps when attracting and retaining employees.

Don’t forget to let us know how we’re doing by leaving a Google or Facebook review!

The post Our Proven Process: Adoption appeared first on Midwest Fiber.

Over the following several blogs, the Midwest Fiber newsletter will present a three-part series on our Proven Process. We’ll walk you through each step to help you understand the strategy and philosophy behind what makes our business work and our customers successful in their recycling programs.

As the saying goes, you can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been. It’s just as important when talking about you’re recycling program. That’s why the first step in the Midwest Fiber Proven Process is “Analysis.”

Step 1: Analysis

Our specialists will meet with you to discuss your current practices and challenges and your goals and objectives. Some partners are looking for consistent reporting to help with compliance. Others are frustrated with the lack of transparency in their pricing or the delay in getting materials picked up. With over 30 years of experience, we can begin to develop a specialized plan just for your company.

Once that discussion and analysis are completed, we move on to “Alignment.” This is where we take all the information and data that we learn from your team and collaborate to create a solution specific to your goals. From our evaluation, we’ll be able to adjust, add or remove procedures to maximize efficiencies and revenue in your entire process. When everyone agrees, the contract is executed, and your company is on its way to a successful recycling program.

Are you looking to re-evaluate your recycling program? Contact the experts at Midwest Fiber and get started with our Proven Process today.

Recycling Advantages for Businesses

We know that recycling is good for the planet – but there are a lot of benefits to businesses beyond positive environmental impact. When your company has a successful recycling plan, it benefits your bottom line! A successful program can bring money in – your recyclables are valuable commodities. Disposing of waste costs money, too, but recycling can turn some of that expense into a revenue stream! Click here to check out some of the many industries that we work with.

Check out this podcast from Heartland Community College about recycling behind the scenes with Midwest Fiber’s own Marie Streenz!

Don’t forget to let us know how we’re doing by leaving a Google or Facebook review!

The post Our Proven Recycling Process: Analysis and Alignment appeared first on Midwest Fiber.

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One of our Recycling Portal’s many features is the Environmental Calculator, giving you real-time data on your recycling program’s impact.  It is customizable by the week, month, or year.  Customers love sharing that information with their employees to show them the impact of their efforts and the areas of improvement.

Our customers have always had access to reports with our help, but now that they have access to the Recycling Portal, they can run the report themselves.  They are able to do it how they want, when they want, the way they want.  The portal can show recycling trends and better predict their recycling program’s income.

Technology is changing how we do things in the recycling world, and Midwest Fiber has a few major changes.

• Our unloaders now carry a tablet that ties directly back into the customer portal. This allows us to be portable, and we can share that portal information with each customer to help improve the value of their material.    
• Several of our plants have a fire protection system called Fire Rover that provides 24/7 fire monitoring and suppression. 

Not only is our recycling portal technology changing the game, but we are upgrading some of our equipment to support these new technologies as well.  Some of our vertical balers now have WIFI capabilities.  Remotely we can monitor how many bales a baler is producing.  We can also use that same information to check the performance of a baler. 

For example, if we were to pick up bales from a customer and found the bales to be lighter than normal.  We could log into the baler and find the issue.  In this case, the operator could be tying the bales off early, which would cause the bales to be light and extra wire to be used.

 The Recycling Portal is here to make your life easier.  We can give our customers real-time access to data with the ability to look at historical data as well.  Improving and applying technology will be a key focus for the recycling industry to ensure a brighter and greener future.

The post Technology Will Make Recycling More Efficient appeared first on Midwest Fiber.

MFI Panagraph FEB 2022

The post Midwest Fiber Pantagraph Feb 2022 appeared first on Midwest Fiber.

In December, the single-stream recycling facility in Normal, IL, had MAX and IRMA installed to help improve the quality and capture 100% of the recyclables. MAX and IRMA are recycling robots that use artificial intelligence to help remove plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and tin cans that are missed in the primary sort. Additionally, they pull out undesirable material from the stream. Check out MAX and IRMA in action in this short video.

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