CRRA 2023 Conference and Trade Show

Sustainability Manager for U.S. and Canada

Jordan Fengel is the Sustainability Manager for the U.S. Canada at Tetra Pak, a global food processing and packaging company and sustainability leader.
Jordan also serves as Government Affairs Director for the Carton Council trade organization. He is on the Board of Directors for AMERIPEN and is the former Executive Director of the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) where he advanced the circular economy and supported the state's recycling industry. Jordan spent four years with the City of Georgetown as their Environmental Programs Coordinator. Jordan has a bachelor’s degree in environmental management and is certified in circular economy system.

Overview of California Carton Markets and Recycling Facts

Current carton recycling programs in California.  As the first speaker of this session, Jordan will provide a clear description of the construction of gable top and aseptic cartons, and an overview of the current “state of carton recycling” in California.    Attendees will learn where cartons recycling programs are in the state, the number of households that recycle cartons in the curbside programs and will learn why carton recycling is more widespread in some parts of the state than others. 

Markets.  Over the years, a wide variety of markets for gable top and aseptic cartons have developed.  Several types of paper mills are interested in the high-quality fiber that is the foundation of this package.  Today cartons are being recycled into tissue and toweling, de-ink pulp, linerboard, and even building products. 

Regulations.  As EPR laws for packaging have been implemented, interest in the “yield” of recyclables has increased.  This session will include information from paper mills and other end markets that indicates that cartons have a good track record for recyclability. 

Processing. Finally, Jordan will explain the ongoing support from the packaging industry to help with sorting technology at MRFs, and to support public education.  Manufacturers have worked together to fund these efforts for over a decade, resulting in over 100 grants across the U.S.  Grant funding is available to MRFs in the state today.

With this background, attendees will come away with current cartons recycling facts, and information about how improve programs at their MRFs and in their communities.

MRF Operations Manager

Ricardo Lopez has been with GreenWaste for more than 25 years, working as a sorter, collection vehicle operator, and MRF Supervisor. Ricardo became MRF Operations Manager in 2008. Ricardo is responsible for the direct oversight and management of all aspects of the GreenWaste MRF operations, including the supervision of staff, commodity management, material hauling and transport, and safety reports. Ricardo also oversees all contract compliance aspects of the MRF, including transportation, allocation, and tracking of all recyclable materials and solid waste processed at the facility.

Successfully Sorting and Marketing Cartons from a Large-Scale MRF

Greenwaste Recovery operates one of the largest Material Recycling Facilities (MRFs) in California.  With no MSW landfills, the Company manages materials for maximum diversion from disposal.  Curbside recyclables and residual residential waste from the City of San Jose and other Bay Area cities are sorted at GreenWaste’s San Jose facility.  Over many years, the company has perfected the art of materials processing.

• GreenWaste manages roughly 2 million tons of inbound material each year. Their 4 facilities process over 30 material types, including C&D, garbage, recyclables, food waste, yard trimmings, and more.
• MRF Processing. Their San Jose MRF processes almost 800,000 tons of material, sorting curbside recyclables and residual residential waste for maximum recycling.

As the MRF Operations Manager, Ricky’s commitment to recycling has opened the door to trying innovative materials and investing in technology for future-looking recycling success.  So, it was not a surprise when Greenwaste Recovery’s San Jose MRF installed robotics to sort gable top and aseptic cartons into dedicated “grade #52” bales for sale to market.  Since this investment two years ago, the company has consistently moved full loads of cartons to end markets in North America. 

In this session, attendees will learn from a large urban recycler:

• How the company adapted its processing line to accommodate the cartons sorting system.
• The volume of cartons that can be expected; and
• The realities of moving cartons to end markets.  

Recycling and Public Education Manager

Tim Dewey-Mattia is the Recycling & Public Education Manager for Napa Recycling & Waste Services. Napa Recycling operates Napa’s Recycling & Composting Facility, and is the local franchise hauler for the City of Napa and southern Napa County. Tim got his start in Zero Waste over 25 years ago –  first with the Middlebury College recycling program and then for several non-profit recycling organizations in San Francisco. He has been at Napa Recycling for 17 years and works on all aspects of program development, implementation, compliance and outreach.  Tim also sits on the board of the Northern California Recycling Association.

How Smaller MRFs Process and Move Less-than-truckload Quantities to Market

Napa Recycling is a mid-sized recycling facility in the Napa City limits that processes a wide range of materials for recycling.  With a staff committed to the concepts of zero waste, and communities that expect maximum diversion, it is easy to see why they have gone the extra mile to separate a gable top and aseptic cartons for recycling.   

In 2021, with support from the Carton Council of North America (CCNA), Napa Recycling installed a robot on the container line of its MRF to sort gable top and aseptic cartons for recycling.  Once the technology was proven they realized that they would benefit for working with other recyclers in the region to consolidate cartons to move full loads of cartons to market more frequently.  Thus, their “Less than Truckload,” or “Milk Run” program was born.

Tim engaged other regional recyclers to collaborate with Napa Recycling for carton recycling.  As a result, he has been able to consistently move material from multiple facilities to end markets. 

In this session, attendees will learn how smaller and mid-size recyclers can collaborate to move less-than-truckload quantities of cartons (or other materials) successfully to end markets.  They will also learn how a smaller MRF was able to successfully fund and install innovative new technology, and what the hurdles and benefits of this effort have been.

Principal, Susan K Robinson Consulting