Issues facing MRFs regarding material output quality Mike Falconer Hall Programme Manager –...
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Transcript of Issues facing MRFs regarding material output quality Mike Falconer Hall Programme Manager –...
Issues facing MRFs regarding material output quality
Mike Falconer HallProgramme Manager – Materials RecyclingWRAP
Why is quality important?
Quality is important in any product
Easier to sell
Financial reward
Compliance to a ‘specification’
Legal compliance (destination country’s and UK’s)
Availability of material in a global market
Develops relationship with end users
As the market matures quality gives a competitive advantage
Municipal Collection
Waste Streams
QUALITYMATERIALS
CO2
savings
MRF
Reprocessors
Re-use, recycle
Management Systems Sampling Measurement Technical
Standards Contractual arrangements Advocacy
Local Authorities
Collections
What can Local Authorities do? Educate and promote best practise
Reward good practise and ‘deal’ with those who contaminate material
Look at potential quality issues when designing collection schemes
Request quality data from the MRF to inform decisions and monitor progress
Link gate fees to output quality in contracts?
What can MRFs do?
Manage quality throughout the process Collect and evaluate important data:
Quality – in / out / residue Input quality vs. production throughput Production throughput vs. output quality
Monitor and maintain equipment Train staff and develop a quality culture Work with the Local Authorities Understand the reprocessing process
What can MRFs do? - equipment
Wide variety of MRF manufacturers
UK providers have a better understanding of UK needs
Plant configuration
Plant capacity
Performance guarantee
What can MRFs do? - input specification
Contract documentation
Input materials Mix of materials Level of contamination Age Storage methods Level of compaction Quality of materials (e.g. wet paper)
Sampling
Agreement on rejection procedure
What can MRFs do? - processing Quality management systems Appropriate for each Local Authorities’
materials Speed of process Flexibility of process Sampling with regular feedback to operatives Material storage Good housekeeping Spillages must go back to the input stockpile
What can MRFs do? - output specification Agreement with end user
Sampling off the line (or off the bale)
Understanding market conditions
Make a consistent product
Training of staff
Regulations
The cost to MRFs of poor quality
Reduced revenue for material (ongoing if consistency in quality an issue)
Low / no demand when market conditions are poor
Risk of prosecution and costs (direct and indirect)
Cost of rework
Cost of returning goods
Cost of processing claims
Summary
Quality management makes financial sense
Each link in the supply chain needs to understand the operations and requirements of the others
Monitor the requirements of the market
Test outputs against these requirements
Communicate with all parts of the supply chain