Doing More with Less

Kristin Smith

C&D recyclers have been faced with tough times in recent years as they try to cope with smaller material streams as a result of the decline in the construction industry. For some that has meant expanding into other areas such as MSW (municipal solid waste) or CII (commercial, industrial and institutional) streams. For others, it has meant processing the material that does come through their facilities even further to create more specialized end products that have a higher price tag.

Being able to diversify one's business in order to remain competitive is not a new concept, but coming up with ways to maximize return has been a matter of survival for many recyclers during these tough times.

The survival scenario was evident at this year's C&D Recycling Forum, recently held near Baltimore.

As observed by Terri Ward of Wilsonville, Ore.-based SSI Shredding Systems Inc., during the opening State of the Industry session, "Our customers are diversifying feedstock materials. Customers are finding new markets to put their equipment to work."

That same sentiment was echoed by Dick Reeves of General Kinematics, Crystal Lake, Ill., during the same session. "You have to be creative in this job environment," he remarked.

Similarly, attendees showed interest in a session titled "Recycling a Larger Mix," in which the three speakers talked about how they are recycling ceiling tiles, wallboard, and vinyl siding collected from construction and demolition job sites and from C&D recycling facilities.

In this issue you will also read about how Liotta Bros. Recycling, Oceanside, N.Y., has had to overcome many challenges over the past year in order to remain in business (See cover story, "Undeterred Recycling," p. 24).

"If we can't get [sufficient revenue] coming in per ton, we have to get it by being that much better at pulling it out and selling it rather than not pulling it out and dumping it," Vic Liotta Jr. tells Construction & Demolition Recycling magazine. "If we can continue to bring our recyclable percentage up by finding new ways to separate it and new customers to buy it, then that number coming in really shouldn't be that critical."

There are many stories just like this across the country of how recyclers are slowing down their processes to further separate materials, taking in new materials or finding new end markets. These stories are a testament to the resiliency and innovation of the industry, illustrating that when times are tough, it is better to ride the tide than it is to wait out the storm.