Q2 Stadium unveils new waste-sorting system

Driving the news: Texas Disposal Systems officials announced last week that the new mini Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is complete and operating inside Q2 Stadium.

• All materials discarded in Q2 Stadium are processed and properly sorted through the mini MRF.

Between the lines: Q2 Stadium last year became the first soccer-specific stadium to achieve "TRUE" pre-certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

• Pre-certification recognizes projects implementing polices to pursue zero waste.

By the numbers: Q2 Stadium diverted 84% of its recyclable and compostable waste from the landfill last year, and 75% before that.

• Now, the stadium is approaching its goal of 90%, and Texas Disposal Systems officials say the MRF can get the stadium another step closer to its goal of zero waste.
• The mini MRF system has the capability of processing roughly 1.5 tons per hour of materials such as glass, food waste, cardboard, paper products, cans and plastic bottles, per Texas Disposal Systems.

What they're saying: "To truly maximize recovery of organics and recyclables, it was necessary to create a system that enables Austin FC staff to look at each stream and sort for quality control," Texas Disposal Systems vice president Adam Gregory said in a statement. "The automated conveyer and compaction system we came up with accomplishes that as efficiently as possible in a small footprint."