Waste Transformed: COR Disposal & Recycling with SSI’s PRI-MAX Primary Reducer

At COR Disposal and Recycling in Portland, Oregon, waste isn’t just discarded, it’s transformed, thanks to innovative technology from SSI Shredding Systems, Inc. and a commitment to sustainability.

Al Simpson, the founder of City of Roses, started the company with one dumpster and a truck purchased with a second mortgage on his home while working full-time for the city of Portland’s maintenance bureau. Nearly three decades later, the company’s operations have expanded dramatically.

The company hit a milestone in 2014 by opening its first materials recovery facility (MRF), a 6,000-square-foot site that paved the way for their current 100,000-square-foot facility which includes as transfer station.

“In 2019 we acquired this property that we're at today. In this growth we went from processing about 10,000 tons of waste a year, to this year we'll do about 130,000 tons of waste,” said AJ Simpson, Chief Operating Officer at COR, formally City of Roses.

At the heart of the operation is the MRF, which separates materials for recycling and reuse.

“On the wet side, regular trash is brought in which is what we usually use in the kitchen,” explained Juan Tec Yah, a supervisor at COR. “The other side we call dry, the MRF. That’s where they bring in basically construction and demolition waste.”

State-of-the-art equipment such as the SSI’s PRI-MAX primary reducer breaks down waste into manageable pieces before it moves through sorting systems. SSI is a global leader in designing and manufacturing industrial shredders and size reduction solutions.

The shredding of materials, like construction debris and household trash, is a crucial step in modern waste management. It reduces the volume of bulky materials, separates valuable recyclables from debris, and prepares materials for further processing. By shredding, MRF’s can increase their recycling efficiency and generate economic value through recovered materials.

“The PRI-MAX - it just makes it into a more manageable feed stock. Then it (the material) goes on to another incline that takes it up onto the sorting belt and up top there is where we have all of our sorters,” said Simpson.

“We have approximately 12 people recovering metal, wood, (and) cardboard,” said Tec Yah.

These materials are then sent to secondary processors to be transformed into new products.

COR’s mission extends beyond processing waste. The company, a certified B Corporation, emphasizes sustainability in every aspect of its operations. In 2023, it debuted Oregon’s first electric garbage truck, cementing its role as an innovator in eco-friendly practices.

“It's our goal and our mission to try to find homes for every material,” AJ said. “We always try to think innovation first. You know, how can we do things differently? How can we challenge the status quo?”

With their efforts to create a circular economy, COR Disposal and Recycling isn’t just managing waste; they’re reimagining its potential. From humble beginnings to becoming a leader in sustainable solutions, COR is helping to reshape Portland’s environmental future, one piece of material at a time.