AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) is proud to announce the brand new, custom Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is complete and operating inside Q2 Stadium in Austin, TX, home of Austin’s Major League Soccer (MLS) team, Austin FC.
As part of TDS’ and Austin FC’s ongoing commitment to making Q2 Stadium the greenest stadium in all of MLS, TDS created a custom sorting system for Austin FC inside of Q2 Stadium that meets the needs of the stadium. With this new system, all materials discarded throughout Q2 Stadium are now being processed and properly sorted into the correct recycling, compost, and waste streams through a mini MRF.
The mini MRF creates an efficient way to decrease contamination and ensure recycling and compostable materials are diverted from the landfill. The mini MRF has the capability of processing approximately 1.5 tons per hour of materials such as glass, food waste, cardboard, paper products, aluminum cans, plastic bottles and more.
“The Austin FC fans are fantastic and do a great job at keeping materials in the right container; however, to truly maximize recovery of organics and recyclables it was necessary to create a system that enables Austin FC staff to look at each stream and sort for quality control,” says Adam Gregory, Vice President of Texas Disposal Systems and Okapi Environmental Services. “The automated conveyor and compaction system we came up with accomplishes that as efficiently as possible in a small footprint. I commend Austin FC for going the extra mile and working with us to create an innovative solution.”
The mini MRF is given its name not by the amount of material it’s capable of sorting, but by the size of the system itself. While Materials Recovery Facilities are doing the same process, sorting waste into different streams and ultimately diverting as much waste from the landfill as possible, they can range in sizes. For example, the MRF at Texas Disposal Systems spans more than 160,000 square feet. But with this MRF being built inside of the stadium service area with very limited space, it had to be a very compact system, and for this reason, is referred to as a “mini MRF.”
“As Austin FC’s official waste and recycling partner, TDS has been the biggest help I could possibly imagine, not just with this project but since the existence of our stadium and our club. Their team has helped us form our zero waste goals, develop our Eco Stations and our hauling systems,” said Nick Otte, Senior Director of Stadium Operations at Austin FC. “I think this mini MRF project in particular is way above and beyond what we could have expected and it’s going to help us meet our goals.”
Through these initiatives, TDS played a vital role in helping make Q2 Stadium the first soccer-specific stadium in the world to achieve TRUE Pre-Certification. To learn more about TRUE and its zero waste certification process, click here. Additionally, credentialed TRUE Advisors from Okapi Environmental Services (OES) have also played a crucial role in guiding Q2 Stadium through the certification process thus far. Okapi Environmental Services consulting group provides a hands-on consulting team that works with Austin FC to help them devise a plan to meet their sustainability goals and be as green as possible through their waste and energy usage.
In past years the MLS team has been at 75% diversion, last year they were at 84% and now they’re approaching 90%. With this new sorting process and equipment, Austin FC’s goal will be to sustain that 90%, increase it upwards and be more consistent with its efforts to get to zero waste.
Be on the lookout for an announcement very soon about where Austin FC is at in its Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) Certification process!
About Texas Disposal Systems
Founded by Bob Gregory, Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) is one of the largest independently owned solid waste collection, processing, and disposal companies in the nation. Our fully integrated facility incorporates solid waste disposal, compost production and recycling operations. We provide the highest quality and most environmentally friendly services in the best interests of our customers, employees, and the community. Learn more about how TDS helps communities, organizations and schools manage and divert waste to beneficial uses at TexasDisposal.com.
About Okapi Environmental Services LLC (OES)
OES is a management company with Bob Gregory as the sole member providing executive and support management services to companies owned and controlled by Gregory. These companies include Texas Disposal Systems, Inc., Texas Disposal Systems Landfill, Inc., TDS Land Management, L.P., TDS Environmental Services L.L.C., Texas Landfill Management L.L.C., Txalloy Inc., Creedmoor Pipeline L.L.C., Okapi Leasing L.L.C., and BGICO, LLC. OES will focus on the responsible, profitable growth of each of the companies in its various business ventures. www.OkapiEnvironmental.com
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