Behind the Bin: A Look Inside Our Region’s Recycling Facility

Have you ever wondered what really happens to your recycling once the truck drives away? Our Community Services Department recently got an inside look.

Lisa Ransler and Jacob Diljak toured Recycling Works, a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Elkhart, Indiana, where recyclables from Van Buren County are sorted and prepared for the next stage of their journey. The visit was organized by Kalli Marshall, Materials Management Project Manager with the Van Buren Conservation District.

Kalli is currently leading the development of a new Materials Management Plan, a joint planning effort between Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties. The goal is simple: help our communities handle waste and recycling smarter, together.

A Group Effort

The tour wasn’t just a county outing. County Commissioner Tina Leary joined, along with members of the public who wanted to see the process firsthand. Kip Kerby of Great Lakes Belting Corporation, based right in Paw Paw, was also part of the group. Kip’s company manufactures some of the conveyor belts used on the facility’s sorting lines, a great example of a local business playing a role in regional recycling infrastructure.

The group’s tour guide, Korina, walked everyone through the full process, from the moment trucks arrive to the final sorted and baled materials ready to move on. The tour covered how recyclables are transported, sorted by machine and by hand, and batched for resale.

One highlight: a prototype robot arm currently being tested to help sort materials more efficiently. We caught it on video, watch it work below.

What We Learned

Touring a MRF makes it clear just how much work goes into recycling after it leaves your curb, and how much harder that work gets when the wrong items end up in the bin. Korina and her team shared a few important reminders:

Garden hoses are a common problem. They are not recyclable, and they tangle in the sorting equipment, slowing or stopping the line.

Bagging your recyclables causes more harm than good. Loose recyclables sort properly. Bagged ones often get pulled out and sent to the landfill instead, or damage equipment trying to process them.

Batteries are hazardous. They should never go in a recycling bin. The facility has dealt with costly fires caused by batteries mixed in with other materials.

The facility is also exploring new equipment to better capture and recycle glass, since glass is one of the more difficult materials to sort and process well.

Even with these challenges, the team at Recycling Works takes real pride in their work. It was clear throughout the tour that the staff understand the impact of what they do and care about doing it well.

How You Can Help

A few simple habits make a real difference for facilities like this one:

Recycle items loose, never bagged.

Keep garden hoses, batteries, and other hazardous or non-recyclable items out of your bin.

When in doubt, leave it out. It is better to throw away something recyclable than to contaminate a whole load.

Get Involved

Van Buren County is looking for a local business that produces waste to represent county businesses on the Materials Management Planning Committee. This is a chance to have a direct voice in shaping how our region handles waste and recycling for years to come.

If your business is interested, or you know a business that would be a good fit, please contact our Community Services Department. CommunityServices@VanBurenCountyMI.gov or 269-657-1074.