COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Rumpke recycling customers will soon no longer have to stuff their trash cans with bulky produce clamshell packaging and cumbersome plastic carry-out containers.

Rumpke Waste and Recycling has announced several new items will be able to be processed at its new state-of-the-art facility thanks to innovative artificial intelligence sorting technology. According to a news release, beginning Nov. 1, Rumpke clients can start tossing some space-hogging cartons straight into their recycling bins.

The new acceptable items include:
• Clear plastic carry-out containers
• Clear plastic fruit, berry and lettuce containers
• Clear plastic egg containers

“The new technology at the Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center allows us to separate and process new types of recycling from the stream, our latest addition is the clamshell container,” said Andrew Rumpke, President at Rumpke.

The waste disposal company said once the awkward packaging is sorted out, it will be sent to a partner manufacturer and then be reduced to plastic pellets used to make other products.

“New artificial intelligence and optic technology allows Rumpke to identify and sort plastic clamshells from other types of plastics within the recycling stream,” said Jeff Snyder, senior vice president of recycling and sustainability at Rumpke. ”Couple our innovations with the emergence of new, long-term end users, and we’ve created the foundation for the acceptance of clamshell container recycling in our region.”

Rumpke also provided some details about its new recycling center.
• The 226,000-square-foot facility is the largest and most advanced in North America.
• Processing capacity has increased from 160,000 to 250,000 tons per year.
• Material is processed twice as fast, at 60 tons per hour.
• It increases the material recovery rate to 98%.
• The facility is designed for future upgrades with adaptable equipment.
• It includes a 3,000-square-foot education center developed with COSI.
• Public tours are available and can be scheduled at Rumpke.com.
• The facility also includes a research and development area and career center.

For additional information on what things can be recycled by Rumpke visit Rumpke’s acceptable items web page.