River Valley Recycling, LLC began as a general scrap business in 2004 that focused on ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The business has grown its operations in order to collect a wider variety of recyclable materials, handle larger volumes, and develop processes that convert materials into a reusable form. River Valley Recycling collects millions of pounds of materials each year that would otherwise end up in landfills.
 
The River Valley Recycling Approach
 
We are dedicated to helping communities put materials back into a reusable form and reduce the burden on landfills. We offer recycling centers that are efficient and convenient for customers.
 
· Our buyback process gets customers in, unloaded, paid and out the door quickly.
· We provide a drive-thru at our facilities so that all unloading can be done inside.
 
River Valley Recycling maintains its own fleet of trucks, heavy equipment and containers. We can service scrap producers of all types and sizes.
 
We implement processes to upgrade and convert materials further along the recycling stream
 
–        Many materials are processed in order to return the product to its original form (for
       example, aluminum is melted so that it can be re-molded into new products)
–        Other materials are processed so that they can be reused, such as through
        remanufacturing
 
After our initial processing, our materials are sent to companies that can advance them to the next level so they can be put back into reusable products
 
–        Ferrous Metals are sent to foundries and mills where they will be remelted and
        reused
–        Non-Ferrous Metals are sent to companies that remelt these metals for use in new
        products
–        River Valley Recycling remelts certain grades of aluminum on site
–        Paper Products are sorted by type, baled, and sent to pulp mills
–        Glass is sorted by color and sent to glass recycling plants where it is crushed and
        melted
–        Plastic is sorted, baled and sent to companies that melt and mold the plastic into
        pellets which are then used to manufacture new products
–        Electronics are sent to companies that separate metals, plastics, and circuit boards
 

 Success Stories

Fiber Recycling Example

Problem

A manufacturer of folders and paper products was spending a large amount on solid waste removal.

Solution

River Valley Recycling identified 200,000 lbs. of paper that could be recycled each month instead of paying to have it removed as solid waste.  As a result of River Valley Recycling’s pickup service, the company saved $113,000 annually off their solid waste bill.

Cardboard Recycling Example

Problem

A processor of dehydrated vegetables, with 2 plants and 3 shifts, produces a large amount of cardboard waste that needs to be quickly removed from the processing area for sanitary reasons.  Each shift had one employee baling cardboard, for a total of 6 employees paid solely to bale cardboard. 

Solution

In order to improve efficiency and reduce operating expenses, River Valley Recycling provided this customer with trailers at each location to collect the cardboard loose (un-baled).  This allowed the customer to more efficiently remove the cardboard from the processing area and assign the 6 employees to other jobs where they were needed without having to hire additional employees.  River Valley Recycling now collects 95,000 lbs. of cardboard and 22,000 lbs. of plastic bags each month from this customer. 

Plastic Recycling Example

Problem

A re-packager of commercial grade food oils uses a variety of plastic and cardboard packaging materials, all of which were being disposed of as garbage.  Per employee suggestions, this business wanted to start a recycling program and keep the reusable materials out of the landfill.

Solution

River Valley Recycling did a comprehensive plant study to identify and develop an implementation plan for retrieving recyclables out of the solid waste stream.  Trailers, boxes, and totes are provided to collect the recyclable materials and exchanged as necessary.  As a result, this customer improved their employee morale and saved a lot of money that they were spending on solid waste removal. 

Metal Recycling Example

Problem

A local oil distribution business contacted River Valley Recycling for a solution to disposing of empty metal drums.  They were using about 300 metal drums each month, which were taking up valuable floor space in their building.

Solution

River Valley Recycling evaluated the situation and identified that there was residual oil in each drum.  We were able to get this customer money for the residual oil in the drums and installed a drum crusher at their facility.  This now allows the customer to be paid for their scrap drums and the unused oil, as well as make better use of their floor space.

The Future
 
River Valley Recycling is based on principles of integrity, flexibility, and innovation. Our reputation and future is built on our relationships with businesses and local communities that we operate in. RVR aims to continue it’s growth and expand into other streams of recyclable materials.