The Circular Philadelphia events calendar usually takes a pause over the summer months as the city empties due to vacations and the heat. But when Director of Policy and Engagement Nic Esposito met with representatives from Richard S. Burns & Co. earlier this summer, he knew that CP had to make an exception.
Established in 1981 by Richard Burns, the company is not only the oldest recycling facility in Philadelphia, but one of the oldest in the country. Richard Burns started as a junk dealer in Philadelphia, but as it goes in the junk business, there were certain things he could not sell. A constant innovator, Burns couldn’t bring himself to just throw these items away in the landfill. So he figured out how to recycle these materials.
Forty three years later and Burns Recycling is not just still in business, but thriving as a construction and demolition recycling company based right here in Philadelphia that serves the tri-state area, employs roughly 100 people and processes 500-800 tons of materials daily.
Richard’s son Allen inherited his father’s penchant for innovation and ingenuity and continues to build the business and find markets or on-site uses for just about all of the varied materials that come through the facility. The company controls almost every aspect of their business from their efficient on-site material movement systems to fabricating their famed Tommy Carts (small rolling metal bins that are more efficient and flexible than dumpsters) to the data systems that track and weigh each Tommy Cart.
Nic was so enthralled with these systems that he knew he had to show the rest of the Circular Philadelphia membership. What sealed the deal for a summertime happy hour was when Nic saw what he calls “The Burns Clubhouse.” This fantastic space houses a pool table, golf simulator, a workout area and most importantly, a bar fabricated from the shell of an old dumpster. But the showstopper was the green roof right above the clubhouse with a lush expanse of sedums and stunning views of the Center City skyline.
After a few weeks of planning with Burns staff (shout out to Ryan Fitzpatrick from the Burns Business Development team), Burns recently hosted Circular Philadelphia staff and members for a tour and happy hour.
On the tour, Allen Burns explained the business’ history and led everyone on what Allen called “a circular tour” through the entirety of the operation that ended back at the clubhouse. The tour showcased every aspect of the operation from beginning to end, including Burns’ patented Tommy Cart system, their thoughtfully designed material drop-off bays and patented (again!) separation bins, the sorting operation, and the machine shop where Burns employees fabricate much of the equipment they use. But the hit of the tour was the woodshop that Burns invites local woodworkers and its employees to use to build needed materials from wood reclaimed from the tipping floor.
The tour ended with a lovely food spread and open bar that underscored a level of hospitality that puts into perspective just how important customer service and partner relations are to Burns.
This people-centric approach was what most impressed community leader and anti-dumping activist Dallas Herbert. For years, Herbert has advocated for more options for local small-scale haulers who don’t have the material capacity or cash flow to meet the ton-minimum requirement at most recycling facilities. But when he saw how much work went into ensuring that this material is handled properly and recycled, he definitely gained a new perspective on what it takes to holistically make the economics work for all involved.
“I was blaming these guys for not accepting smaller loads for a smaller price,” explained Herbert, “but now I see what it costs to separate even the smallest load. It takes manpower. I was enlightened.”
At the event, Herbert was excited to learn from Burns that they’ll soon start allowing small haulers to dump for lower fees on Saturdays, which Herbert thinks is something they can build on if it works to help curb illegal dumping.
Josh Mastromatto is the CEO and founder of the startup REGO, which is providing solutions for apartment complexes to recycle and donate furniture left behind by tenants. As a founder, he was captivated by the story of Burns’ founding and growth as well as the constant innovation that views every business challenge as an opportunity for innovation. It was also great to see Mastromatto’s wheels turning on how REGO and Burns can partner as they both interact with the built environment.
It’s these stories that fuel Circular Philadelphia’s dedication to providing high quality events for our members to learn, network and have some fun while they’re at it. Of course, it’s always important to use these summer months to take a breather and recharge. So we were happy to plan an event for our members that let them kick back on a green roof with a cool drink while also learning more about how special Philadelphia’s circularity community is.
As member Blake Carroll aptly put it, “It was honestly just really fun. Good people, good food, good drinks – so what’s not to like?”
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