Boulder County Recycling Center Rick Kattar MRF Operations

Boulder County Recycling Center Rick Kattar, MRF Operations Analyst April 28, 2021 Resource Conservation Advisory Board

Boulder County Recycling Center 2020 Report • • Inbound Material Trend (2013 -2020) Outbound Material Trend (2013 -2020) Material Sales Revenue Trend (2013 -2020) Market Conditions Gate Fees Key Operating Performance Indicators Projects Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

2020 The Year of Change As we begin this journey down memory lane, there a couple of general items to ponder: • Personnel changes: Cly Lewis, Recycling Operations Manager • COVID Impact: Eco-Cycle was quick to respond and implement a Pandemic Operations Plan, which included safety protocols and training for the employees. There were no widespread outbreaks of illness in this high-risk group of essential employees. Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

Inbound Materials by Year Overall volume increase in 2020 from prior year 12. 5% Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

2020 Inbound Materials by Stream Commingled Containers, 149, 0, 23% Single Stream Commercial, 8 956, 13, 77% Fiber, 4 594, 7, 06% Containers, 53, 0, 08% Single Stream Residential, 51 292, 78, 86% Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

Outbound Material by Year Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

2020 Outbound Material Glass-Mix, 12 295, 21, 23% Milk / Juice Scrap Metal, Cartons, 82, 425, 0, 14% 0, 73% Mixed Rigid / Mix 3 -7 Plastic , 382, 0, 66% PP#5, 413, 0, 71% ONP, 15 601, 26, 94% HDPE-C, 455, 0, 79% HDPE-N, 446, PET, 2 183, 0, 77% 3, 77% Steel Can, 1 321, 2, 28% Aluminum UBC, 1 093, 1, 89% Office Pack (SOP), 84, 0, 15% OCC #11, 22 894, 39, 54% Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

Material Sales Revenue by Year Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

2020 Material Sales Revenue Mixed Rigid/Mix 3 -7 Plastic, $ Glass-Mix, $ 66 873, 1, 44% 605, 0, 38% PP, $ 5817437, Scrap Metal, $ 38 593, 0, 83% 1, 26% HDPE-N, $ 474 443, 10, 22% Milk / Juice Cartons, $ 2 049, 0, 04% ONP, $ 602 761, 12, 98% HDPE-C, $ 82 342, 1, 77% PET, $ 265 390, 5, 72% Steel Can, $ 144 745, 3, 12% Aluminum UBC/Foil, $1, 049, 075 , 23% 104907500, 00% Other Fiber (Hard Mix), $ 1 688, 0, 04% Office Pack (SOP) , $10, 741 , 0. 23% OCC #11, $ 1 828 677, 39, 38% Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

Market Forecast PLASTIC Market drivers - Many major brands (Coke, Pepsi, P&G ) are positioning their supply chain to deliver on stated recovery and use goals. Many of these companies and related brands have committed to meeting their publicly stated goals by 2025. As we approach 2025 companies are elevating their engagement and energy as it relates to increased recovery rates so they can demonstrate that they have realized tangible results that are easily verifiable. This pressure is beginning to drive accountability and awareness as well as price. • HDPE HD Natural and HD Colored. Natural pricing should be elevated throughout the year. KW and other end users feel confident that demand will stay strong. Merlin Plastics in Canada has introduced themselves in a big way. This helps with competition and pricing. • PET - Pricing should ebb and flow as investors deal with some end market disruptions due to Carbon Lite bankruptcy and Mohawk going off-line during Co. Vid. This caused supply issues. PET should price flat through the remainder of the year. • Poly Propylene (PP) resin has remained in demand pricing has been good. PP is a good impact modifier for HD and can be used in HD recipes. As in many cases with resins that can be blended, we see opportunity increases due to substitute utilization of lessor valued resins. • Mixed Plastic : This plastic pack has always been a challenge but is stable as other resin values increase and users look to this grade to yield tramp 1, 2, 4 and 5. • Mixed Rigid Plastic (MRP) MRP continues to be influenced by HD pricing. Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

Market Forecast Transportation issues are a worldwide problem. Domestic truck drivers are in short supply, railroads are stretched, space on steamship lines is very short, making importing and exporting of paper and all other products difficult. METALS • Aluminum – Movement and pricing continues to be strong. Pricing is directly connected with economies beginning to restart and supply is constrained. • Steel – Continues to be strong in line with other metals as demand begins to increase at rates greater than supply can meet. Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

Market Forecast, continued FIBER – OCC, ONP, MP • OCC – Pricing for OCC continues to be influenced by export market availability. Although pricing has been strong, container availability has become increasingly limited which has constrained volume movement from coastal producers. Major mill groups will begin to take advantage of this if they can and drive pricing down. Contract relationships are critical. • ONP has been stable but this continues to be a declining commodity. #56 is now used as a substitute for their mixed paper runs. Much of this is going to box board , container board mills for medium or bag stock. Bag stock is an easier transition from news and these mills have been staying in play with this product. • MP is strong as new capacity has come online. Pratt is the driver relative to this commodity but others are beginning to show interest. Container board is strong and driving this grade as a substitute fiber. Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

Gate Fees Residential Single-Stream (SSR) In Q 1 2021 we are seeing substantially better pricing of fiber material grades related to this stream compared to Q 1 2020. Additionally, most container products (plastics and metals) are continuing to hold steady at higher prices than earlier this year. Commercial Single-Stream (SSC) Although pricing for Sorted Office Paper (SOP) has increased, we are seeing far less of this material in the stream. As we continue to be watchful of this stream composition and as commercial properties are slowly returning to normal operations, we have found that other materials currently found in this stream have maintained their value. Market Comparison: Comparatively, other MRFs are currently charging $53 -$75 per ton tip fee and are landfilling plastics 3 -6 -7. This is a testament to Boulder County’s philosophy and partnership with Eco. Cycle that producing quality material, investing in technology, and marketing domestically helps us weather the unpredictable international market swings with more stability. Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

Key MRF Performance Indicators • Two Safety Recordable Incidents • Tons Per Run Hour – 27 • Tons Per Paid Hour – 25 • Uptime – 93% • Residue 11. 5% Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

Plant Projects We completed several plant capital projects in 2020: • Installed 2 AMP Robotic sorters on quality control stations. Named Sorty Mc. Sortface and Sir Sorts-a-Lot through a naming contest -- they are a welcome addition to the team. • Installed a new staffed Aluminum QC station • Replaced main in-feed conveyor • Re-lined Bollegraf baler Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

2021 Plant Projects • Two-ram Marathon baler re-line • Replace original drum feeder • Install optical sorters on the paper sort lines • Replace residue compactor • West lot asphalt repairs • Educational Displays update Boulder County Resource Conservation Division

Contact Rick Kattar, BCRC MRF Operations Analyst 720 -564 -2224 rkattar@bouldercounty. org Boulder County Resource Conservation Division