USA – Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) has expanded its list of acceptable materials to include paper cups, making Chicago the latest city to accept paper cups in its curbside recycling program as the trend continues to spread.
According to LRS, the enhanced service will allow more than 1 million Chicago area residents to recycle paper cups.
Mark Molitor, director of MRF operations at LRS said: “As an early pioneer of the circular or closed-loop operating model, we are thrilled to be a part of this initiative to expand curbside recycling in the Midwest.
“The ability to add paper cups to our list of acceptable materials is in line with our goals of diverting and repurposing discarded materials, and we look forward to continuing our collaborative recycling efforts in the Chicagoland area.”
LRS has also partnered with the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI) to launch an outreach campaign to educate Chicago residents about what can and cannot be recycled through the expanded program.
The campaign features social media posts, updated recycling flyers, an educational video and public transit advisements tailored to the Chicago community.
Chicago joins a growing list of cities to add paper cups to acceptable materials lists in partnership with the FPI.
The city of Memphis, Tennessee, added paper cup recycling in June following a rollout of the program in material recovery facilities across North Carolina and South Carolina.
LRS says once paper cups enter the recycling system, it bales them with other paper products and sends the bales to mills in the Great Lakes region.
“FPI has collaborated throughout the recycling value chain to conduct research, facilitate trials and cultivate relationships with end markets to provide pathways for paper cup recycling,” said FPI President Natha Dempsey.
“The Midwest represents a huge opportunity for adding paper cups to the residential recycling efforts in the region.”
Acceptable items in LRS service areas now include pizza boxes without grease or reside, food and beverage cartons, paper bags, polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene cups and aluminum foil food packaging.
Acquisition of Environmental Recycling & Disposal
Meanwhile, LRS recently purchased a business that will expand the company’s footprint to part of the Chicago metro area, while also providing an update on executive leadership changes.
The acquisition of Environmental Recycling & Disposal comes with 10 municipal contracts, 30,000 residential customers, 4,200 business accounts and a transfer station.
LRS Chief Operating Officer John Larsen said the operation will add more than 50 employees.
Following the acquisition, Environmental’s founders Jay and Dale Ipema will stay on with LRS as consultants for one year.
“We’re really pleased to get the deal done, really happy to work with the Ipema family during this transition time and excited to expand our market within the Will County area,” said Larsen.
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