Distribution Centers: Home Furnishings
An important aspect of a home furnishing distribution center’s operation is efficient waste management. A distribution center produces scrap materials during regular operations. So the company needs a safe and affordable waste disposal solution.
Consider the time and energy that goes into producing new cardboard packaging. To manufacture a single ton of new cardboard requires three tons of virgin timber. By recycling your cardboard, you can reduce the resources the production process requires. Recycling your scrap materials reduces your production costs and makes a positive impact on the environment.
Keep reading to learn about recycling for home furnishing distribution centers and how Generated Materials Recovery can help you start.
Table of Contents
Common Materials Recycled in the Industry
The recyclable materials for home furnishing distribution centers fall within these three grades:
Old Corrugated Cardboard (OCC)
Of these three categories, the most common type of material is cardboard—specifically cardboard packaging. In the United States, 90% of shipped products are packaged in corrugated cardboard boxes. Additionally, in 2017, the United States generated approximately 32.5 million tons of corrugated cardboard.
- Old corrugated cardboard
- Cardboard from distribution centers and manufacturing operations
- Old and new cardboard
LLDPE Plastic Film
The plastic materials that a home furnishing distribution center produces comes in the form of stretch film. Commonly, this stretch film consists of linear low-density polyethylene or LLDPE. Distribution centers use this type of stretch film plastic to transport a pallet of furniture products.
- Polystyrene (PS)
- Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) found in plastic stretch film
- Polypropylene (PP)
Foam
Expanded polystyrene or EPS foam is another material used in packaging products. The two forms that EPS foam takes are solid blocks of EPS foam or foam packing peanuts. The type of EPS foam used will depend on the product and how it is packaged. Some products are packaged with larger foam blocks for protection, while other smaller items may be packaged with packing peanuts.
- Post-industrial prime foam, which mainly includes expanded polystyrene (EPS)
- Polyurethane and viscoelastic foam
- Visco or memory foam found in mattresses
While these are just a few types of warehouse and distribution center materials that GMR handles, there is no grade of material that gets left behind!
GMR operates as a one-stop-shop for all material grades and types. Clients are welcome to contact GMR and have any materials assessed for a custom recycling solution.
Preparing Home Furnishing Distribution Center Materials for Recycling
Before you can begin any recycling process, you must first sort your scrap materials by grade. Sorting the materials allows for a more efficient recycling process.
Once you’ve sorted your materials, the materials must be prepared for shipping. The preparation process is dependent on the material.
To prepare OCC materials for recycling, the materials must be fed into a compactor. Plastic and foam materials must be baled or densified. The goal is to reduce the amount of space these materials take up when shipped to a recycling center.
Material Collection and Transportation Equipment
Our team at GMR is dedicated to providing you with an integrated, cost-effective waste management solution.
To help you properly integrate your waste management solution, GMR offers on-site collection equipment, such as vertical and horizontal balers, compactors and densifiers. Once your materials are prepared, GMR uses receiver boxes and tilt toppers to collect your materials. After collecting all your materials, our team uses a van trailer to transport your materials to our recycling facility.
The GMR Difference
Generated Materials Recovery (GMR) has provided manufacturing and industrial operations with creative sustainability solutions for over 20 years. Thanks to GMR’s focus on manufacturing and industrial companies, GMR’s team has a comprehensive understanding of your warehouse and distribution center recycling needs.
When you partner with GMR, we will comprehensively survey your company. This assessment lets us know what grades and types of materials you produce the most of, so we can create an appropriate recycling solution.
GMR handles grades of recyclable commodities few other companies would touch, and they help us reduce our monthly expenses.
How Can We Help You?
Fill out our contact form to schedule a time to talk with us about how GMR can help your company to increase recycling revenue, achieve sustainability goals, and meet efficiency targets.
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