New York is implementing the largest waste recycling program in the United States. SMR serves the city of New York through its operations in Queens, the Bronx and Jersey City, as well as its most recent venture in Brooklyn, Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility, which opened in 2013. The Brooklyn plant is the largest integrated waste recycling facility in North America. It recycles 100% of metal, glass and plastic, as well as 50% of paper collected by the New York City Department of Sanitation in the five boroughs. Learn more about the company’s work at brooklyn-name.com.
Waste recycling plant
SMR also manages one of the largest MRFs in New Jersey, processing recyclables from many other municipalities and private sources in the New York-New Jersey metro area, including Jersey City and Bayonne.
The enterprise is administered on behalf of the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach and Lee counties in Florida. Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility processes:
- metal
- glass jars and bottles
- hard plastic
- cardboard boxes
- paper
- cardboard.
As a waste recycling company, it aims to recover all secondary raw materials from the waste stream. Thus, individual recycling strategies are developed here, with the goal of keeping resources as far away from landfills as possible. The corporation is known for establishing state-of-the-art facilities and maintaining beneficial partnerships with small and major industries, counties and municipalities. They do more than just recycle: they also actively participate in important industry efforts aimed at increasing material circulation while saving money. To increase engagement in garbage disposal, education and communication programs are given top priority. Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility is doing an important job and looks forward to collaborating with clients to create a closed-loop economy, one bale at a time, by recycling and selling the approximately 500,000 tons of plastic, glass, metal and paper that New Yorkers throw away in trash cans every year.
Between 2010 and 2013, a new 11-acre recycling complex was erected on the Brooklyn waterfront. SMR collaborated with geotechnical experts to create structural fill blends with “mole rock” from New York City Tunnel projects mixed with recycled glass aggregate. More than 5,000 tons were combined with 20,000 tons of “mole rock” to raise areas by four feet, protecting buildings and equipment from rising sea levels and storm surges. The new recycling facility implements only eco-friendly construction technologies. The “green” design incorporates:
- natural lighting and renewable energy production
- on-site stormwater treatment
- water-efficient landscaping
- use of diesel fuel with ultra-low sulfur levels.
Curbside recycling program
Processing operations are done in an enclosed space to protect the surrounding area from dust, odors and debris. The curbside recycling program in New York City transports metal, glass and plastic between facilities via the SMR network of coastal facilities and a fleet of barges in the harbor. This reduces truck traffic across Brooklyn and the rest of the city.
The recycling facility creates approximately 85 new permanent jobs for candidates with different skill levels. Hiring from the local community is their priority.
The 88-acre South Brooklyn Marine Terminal has great water access for barges and an active railway connection. The receiving building rises above the water to ensure safety during barge unloading operations.
Recycling Education Center
To learn about what happens to recycled materials once they leave the landfill, you should visit the Recycling Education Center in Brooklyn. The observation deck and bridge provide views of the country’s largest sorting system. Discover an extensive network of equipment that sorts hundreds of tons of metal, glass and plastic every day. Explore the 8,000-square-foot Recycling Education Center that offers interactive displays, entertaining activities and educational videos. REC features a theater, dining area and an outdoor patio with views of the New York City skyline. Witness sustainability in action, incorporating the city’s only commercial wind turbine, native plants, marine habitats and stormwater management.
The Recycling Education Center is open Monday through Friday and only by appointment.
It features an online calendar where you may book guided tours for school groups, adult groups and individual persons. Due to the popularity of such tours, the company recommends booking excursions 2-3 months in advance. The facility is wheelchair-accessible and there is a parking lot on-site. All guided tours are led by experts, so you can ask questions and receive detailed answers throughout every guided tour.