Material Recovery Facilities

What is a Material Recovery Facility?

A Material Recovery Facility (MRF, pronounced MURF) is a specialized facility designed to process and sort recyclable materials from the commingled recycling stream, such as paper, plastics, metals, and glass. The primary function of an MRF is to separate valuable recyclables from non-recyclable materials to ensure that recyclables are cleaned, sorted, and prepared for end manufacturers to be made into new products. MRFs typically use a combination of manual labor, mechanical sorting, and advanced technology, such as conveyor belts, air classifiers, magnets, optical sorters, and even AI, to achieve this. The goal of an MRF is to maximize the amount of material that can be recycled or repurposed, thereby reducing waste sent to landfills and contributing towards environmental sustainability.

Where Do My Recyclables Go in Wood County?

If you recycle your items at any of the 24/7 Residential Recycling Drop-off Locations in Wood County, Rumpke Waste & Recycling collects them and transports them to their MRF in Columbus. This state-of-the-art facility is North America's largest and most technologically advanced recycling facility. At over 226,000 square feet, this $100 million investment includes four ballistic separators, 19 optical scanners, and artificial intelligence technology to process 150,000-250,000 tons of recyclables annually from nearly 50 Ohio counties, including Wood County. This facility efficiently sorts and recyclables with a recovery rate of over 98%. Don't worry; your recyclables are being recycled.