In Pembroke Pines last week, Waste Management celebrated a new beginning in recycling, with the inauguration of a Materials Recovery Facility. M.R.F (pronounced “murf”) is one of the largest in the country and processes in excess of 250,000 tons of material per year!
I had the chance to visit the WM Reuter Facility to see M.R.F in action. Sure, it was garbage, but this huge machine is cutting edge! What makes it so cool is the science and technology behind it. With magnets, optical eyes and even eddy currents, M.R.F is capable of automatically sorting up to five times more material than the traditional method! Even better, the facility has an education center for people interested in learning more about the process. [See M.R.F in Action]
Recycling has never been easier because M.R.F’s “single-stream” method no longer requires the separation of the various materials. One bin is all you need! However, getting these new bins out to everyone will take some time. WM is hoping to service all residential areas that already have recycling in place, by September.
The rules have changed a bit, too! Now you can place plastic bottles marked #1-7, magazines, junk mail, and even cereal boxes into the bin.
