Pellitteri Waste Systems - Member Spotlight

Pellitteri Waste Systems is a family owned operation providing superior trash & recycling collection and processing to commercial, industrial, and residential customers throughout Southern Wisconsin. Read more about how Pellitteri is finding solutions to encourage a fully functioning recycling system.

The Global Recycling market Overview

The recycling landscape has changed over the last two years. Since January 2018, China, one of the world’s largest buyers of recyclables, has drastically limited the amount of material it will accept. Also, low oil prices have made it cheaper to use virgin materials to make plastic products rather than to purchase recycled plastic. Additionally, unusually high snow and rainfall in Wisconsin has been a setback for paper-based recycling due to bins being left open and water-soaking the materials. In these market conditions, reducing contamination will help create a fully functioning recycling system. 

Contamination

WasteCap caught up with Danielle Pellitteri, Vice President of Sales, to discuss the changing recycling landscape and the unprecedented challenges regarding contamination. When asked, "what are some upcoming challenges that Pellitteri Waste Systems faces," Danielle reiterated,

Contamination is the challenge. Keeping non-recyclable items out of the stream is our number one priority. When non-recyclable items (such as clothes, yard waste and Styrofoam®) are placed in the recycling cart, our contamination rate increases and the material recovery facility's (MRF's) ability to recycle correct items decrease. Keeping the recycling stream clean allows for the maximum amount of recycled material to be recovered. Contaminants  often result in malfunctions and breakdowns to the equipment."

As a solution, Pellitteri Waste Systems is using a two-pronged approach: (1) communications campaign to educate customers and (2) upgraded technology to get contaminants out of the stream.  

Customer Communication

As a way to educate its customers, Pellitteri Waste Systems created several short videos explaining how to prepare recyclables. David Pellitteri, Vice President of Finance & Development and WasteCap Board of Director, offers customers tips through a variety of videos featured below:

Wine Bottles

Glass

Tin Cans

Plastic Bottles

Water Contamination

Online Shopping

Shredded Paper

Aluminum Cans

Pizza Boxes

Food Contamination

Plastic Contamination

Pellitteri Waste Systems also created downloaded facts sheets. See below: 

Non-Recyclable Items that Contaminate Recycling

non_recyclable_items_-_contamination.pdf
File Size:	390 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Residential Collection Information (English)

residential_recycling_list.pdf
File Size:	65 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Residential Collection Information (Spanish)

residential_spanish_rc_list_5-2019.pdf
File Size:	267 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Upgraded Technology

Operationally, Pellitteri Waste Systems invested in new technology to sort material more effectively. Below is a video of Pellitteri Waste Systems' Kipp Street Station Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in action. The video includes the upgraded artificial intelligence (AI) technology.  

Becoming Stewards of Recycling

Pellitteri Waste Systems financially supports Wisconsin educational programming like Becoming Stewards. Pellitteri Waste Systems sponsored a new educational video called "Becoming Stewards of Recycling - Waste Resource Management," which aired on the Into the Outdoor television series. It tells the story of solid waste science and technology in Wisconsin. It was created for better public education and is a great teaching aid! 

History & Future

Since 1939, the family tradition of  waste management service has been going strong. In 1979, the Pellitteri Waste Systems company was officially started. The family owned operation continues to provide superior trash & recycling collection and processing to commercial, industrial, and residential customers throughout Southern Wisconsin. Pellitteri Waste Systems was recently featured as one of the top 40 US Haulers by Waste Today. Danielle Pellitteri says that "with the help of our devoted customers and dedicated staff, we hope to build on our past success and find new solutions that support a fully functioning resource recovery system."