Southside Recycling processes over 740 tons of discarded metal annually—equal to the amount of garbage collected citywide in Chicago. The new facility includes cutting-edge environmental controls like a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) and advanced filtration to reduce VOC emissions, making it one of the most sustainable recycling plants in the U.S. Spanning 25 acres, the facility includes seven Hazardous Use buildings and features massive equipment, including a 9,600-hp shredder capable of processing 500 tons of metal per hour. Construction required custom support for specialized machinery and two large stormwater ponds for water treatment. Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, international supply chain issues, and a tight timeline, the team coordinated daily with vendors across the U.S. and Europe. Value engineering efforts led to major cost savings by reusing materials and optimizing layouts. Nearly 10 acres of reinforced concrete were poured, with volumes reaching up to 1,400 CY per day. Over 30 subcontractors were managed without disrupting adjacent plant operations or the 250+ employees on site. This project demonstrates precision planning, collaboration, and sustainable industrial construction at scale.
