Business View Magazine | March 2019

118 using quality control methods to ensure when we ship them out to end markets that they’re getting the commodity they need for their op- erations. For example, residential recycling is put out to the curb by the homeowner, or taken to drop-off locations, in a co-mingled fashion and we have to separate those materials into their respective commodity types: newspaper, cardboard, aluminum cans, plastic, and so on. Then it’s our responsibility to find consumers, or end markets, who turn them back into a variety of products.” While shipments are made to export markets in South Korea, Malaysia, India, China, and Mexico, the majority of material stays state- side. The company signed a long-term contract with the City of Omaha in 2015 to process their recyclables through 2020, with automatic opportunities for renewals for a total of 20 years. Due to the large outlay of capital need- ed for specialized mechanical sorting equip- ment, FirstStar Recycling is the only MRF in Omaha. Competition comes from two similar, yet smaller, companies in Lakehead and Lin- FIRST STAR FIBER, INC./FIRST STAR RECYCLING