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Waste Facility FAQs

Waste Facility FAQs

  1. What does the abbreviation WTRF mean? Can I see what happens there?
  2. What's the difference between the Office of Waste Management (OWM) and the Waste Transfer and Recovery Facility (WTRF)?
  3. Where does all this "stuff" go after Waste Management collects it?
  4. Why am I required to report to the office or stop on the weigh scale when I drop off materials (or pick something up) at the Recycling Facility (WTRF)?

What does the abbreviation WTRF mean? Can I see what happens there?

WRTF is an abbreviation for Waste Recovery and Transfer Facility. In the recycling industry, the name Materials Recovery Facility (e.g. Springfield MRF) refers to operations that perform one or more of several functions: sorting of recyclables by material type (particularly mixed or commingled recyclables), contaminant removal, and densification (such as baling, grinding and shredding). The UMass WRTF does not sort mixed containers or paper but it does: (1) sort other types of recyclables, (2) bale cardboard and (3) consolidates recyclables into truckload quantities for cost-effective transport. For the first time in May of 2004 - thanks to the new Waste Transfer station - UMass began consolidating trash loads at the WRTF for efficient transport to regional disposal facilities. For simplicity sake, the WTRF is often referred to as the "Recycling Facility." Tours are available on request. See Campus Waste Facility page for additional information about access to the WRTF.

What's the difference between the Office of Waste Management (OWM) and the Waste Transfer and Recovery Facility (WTRF)?

OWM is an organizational unit within the Building and Grounds Services Division of the Physical Plant, Facility & Campus Services.  It has responsibility for campus waste management , moving services and surplus property handling. The WRTF is the building and operation by means of which OWM provides recycling and waste management services to the campus. The WRTF was the result of a 1992 renovation of the old Lawrence Riding Arena. The OWM office, the WRTF and the Surplus Property Barn are situated adjacent to one other at 151 Tillson Farm Rd. 

Where does all this "stuff" go after Waste Management collects it?

For a detailed explanation see our Guide to Material Destinations. In simple terms: all refuse collected by OWM's trash trucks is brought to the WRTF, consolidated there in 20 ton transfer- trailer loads and hauled to the Southbridge landfill or other disposal facility. Bottles, cans and paper are consolidated and shipped in 4-5 ton loads to the Springfield Materials Recovery Facility for sorting, baling and marketing to mills. Corrugated cardboard is taken to the WRTF and baled for shipment to paper mills. All of the wide variety of other recyclables collected from campus are first received at the WRTF and then subjected to one or more of the following procedures: sorting, contaminant removal, densification and shipment in transfer trailer load quantities to recyclers.

Why am I required to report to the office or stop on the weigh scale when I drop off materials (or pick something up) at the Recycling Facility (WTRF)?

The OWM is responsible for tracking the flow of material into and out of the Recycling Facility and to and from the Campus as a whole. This is done for several reasons. Once material is deposited at the WTRF site, it becomes our responsibility – our asset or liability. If a hazardous material is improperly deposited or labeled, remediation costs or fines may be incurred by the University. If valuable materials are removed by unauthorized individuals, the University loses revenue and OWM must account for this. OWM staff are therefore obligated to exercise control over who may deposit/remove which material and where. Furthermore, OWM uses the weights of materials flowing through the facility to track the performance of the recycling and waste management program. It also uses the scale generated records of trips to the WTRF by various departments to monitor the degree to which various customers require our services as well as their needs for access on different days of the week/hours of the day/seasons of the year.