Waste Management Recycle America - Oakwood Village Facility

On a recent tour of the recycling facility at Oakwood Village, I learned what happens to the bulk of the recyclable materials from the 27 cities around the region. Built in 1993, WM Recycle America processes about 4000-5000 tons of recyclable materials every month. The facility handles single stream recycling, which allows participants to place all recyclables into one container. Automated sorting technology at Oakwood Village separates the material streams so they can be baled and remarketed.

The facility employs 42 people on two shifts and accepts residential single stream recycling and corrugated cardboard from the commercial sector. The site is also a transfer station for waste. Smaller trucks drop off waste at the transfer station. The waste is consolidated and placed on larger trucks for hauling to the American Landfill in Waynesburg, OH. One of the saddest sites is to look at the "waste" in the transfer station and see so much cardboard destined for landfill. According to the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, approximately 41% of a typical business waste stream is comprised of fiber (cardboard, paper, newspaper, and magazines). WM tries to separate wood waste, which it takes to its Solon C&D landfill.