Our Balers Help Milwaukee Recycle & Compact Waste

Milwaukee evokes thoughts of reliable tools, cheese, and great sports teams and the beloved home of Laverne and Shirley of television fame. But did you know they also invented the typewriter and answering machine in Milwaukee? It is also home to the oldest certified bowling alley. Main export goods are machinery, computers and electronics, transportation equipment, processed foods, and chemicals. Not a surprise, but you may be surprised that the main import was sweaters.

The city turns to Bramidan to help the city manage waste and recycle in the Midwest. 

Rate of recycling are improving in Milwaukee. Rates increased about 14% over past years, but the lack of outlets for cardboard and plastics are forcing the city to consider other measures. While demand overseas has decreased, companies like Amazon and other online retailers are requiring a record number of boxes. The onset of restriction due to Covid-19 has complicated things. On one hand it has increased online sales dramatically and on the other, due to job losses, overall commerce is down.

Segmenting Streams for Profit

So, while these dynamics are working out, Milwaukee is doing its best with what it has and segmenting its streams to profitable vs unprofitable. Water bottles and boxes are still viable, but unless manufacturers start designing packaging accordingly, there may be continued softness in markets for what may seem like a good packaging idea now, but a bad one for recycling.

Bramidan is finding unique opportunities with items that are also in flux like plastic straws, sacks, and PPE materials. By separating these materials, the hauling costs are reduced and there are clearer paths to recycling. The more manufacturers, commercial enterprises, municipalities, and providers like Bramidan work together, the better our chances of weathering these challenges.