in this issue

REgenerate
Lakeshore Recycling Systems
reuse

recycle
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reach out
3rd QUARTER 2014
TEAM SPIRIT!
Lakeshore Recycling Systems inks exclusive
in-game “three-and-out” sponsorship with
WBBM Newsradio’s Chicago Bears Radio
Network for the 2014 season. >>Page 11
IN THIS
ISSUE
3 Creating and sustaining a culture of safety
4–5 How LRS goes #BeyondWaste every day
8–9 LRS: Making a Difference—Armando Aguilar
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Rich
A Message from Managing Partner Rich Golf
Going #BeyondWaste: How we do it and
what it means for our team effort
A game-changing summer turns into a
game-changing fall at Lakeshore Recycling
Systems—Chicagoland’s go-to waste
solutions company, diverting more waste
from landfills than any other provider in
the region.
Our June 3rd acquisition of Heartland
Recycling greatly expanded our available
services, our workforce, and our footprint in
greater Chicago. Also in June, we opened
our new “Packers” maintenance and fueling
facility located on the former site of the
historic Chicago Stockyards. This facility
allows us to strategically deploy our fleet
and provide state-of-the-art maintenance
for our trucks on 10 acres of contiguous
land reserved for parking vehicles and
storing containers.
Our broader reach and diversified services
now encompass four Material Recovery
Facilities (MRFs) and a major transfer facility,
enabling LRS to do more for our customers
and the environment.
This issue of REgenerate highlights
some of the many ways we go
#BeyondWaste every day.
We’ve brought on additional staff,
increasing our team by nearly 15 percent,
strengthening our ability to deliver the
dependable and responsive service our
customers deserve.
We welcome our new colleagues and
challenge them to follow the example of
Armando Aguilar, one of our most
dedicated line workers, who is featured
in our employee spotlight on page 8.
LRS prides itself in creating a supportive
environment for all LRS employees. That
effort is anchored by our safety program,
which we monitor continuously.
Several recent enhancements to our safety
program are highlighted on page 3.
2 We continue to grow responsibly, mindful of
our commitment to steward resources and
use them wisely.
With more locations across metro
Chicago, we’ve cut the distance between
drop-off locations for our industry
customers. We’re proud to help reduce
downtime for hundreds of customers
whose job sites change weekly—
construction and demolition companies,
private waste haulers, and smaller
independent firms with flatbeds.
Our LRS fleet will be burning less fuel,
reducing pollution, and saving both time
and money, as our drivers, particularly our
Blue Cart drivers, can now refuel at our
Packers location.
Our #BeyondWaste feature on page 4
demonstrates more ways we’re adding
value for customers while contributing to
a cleaner environment—everything from
recycling roof shingles to turning rubble
into clean concrete.
LRS will continue to grow smartly and
strategically through future acquisitions like
Heartland and infrastructure build-outs like
our Packers facility. With the help of our
world-class workforce and the best
customers any company could ask for,
we’ll continue to deliver the highest levels of
customer service and best value as Illinois’
largest and fastest-growing independent
waste processing company.
Thank you and best wishes for a happy
and productive fall!
Rich
REgenerate • 3rd QUARTER 2014
LRS: Safety is a front-line company value
Providing the appropriate information, equipment, and work
environment needed to stay safe
Lakeshore Recycling Systems takes safety
seriously and it shows. From testing new
gloves with increased cut and puncture
resistance to monthly safety meetings at
all operational facilities, the company’s
commitment to safety is aimed at protecting
employees and delivering on its promises
to customers.
Well-informed, well-equipped,
and well-prepared
For Director of Safety Steve Sholler, his
job priority is ensuring company operations
support the well being of each LRS team
member. Steve brings to LRS experience he
gained developing emergency procedures
for several Illinois municipalities, and
on staff with Kenny Construction—
a national contractor headquartered
in Chicago, as well as the only
construction company to be awarded
the National Safety Council’s prestigious
Green Cross for Safety.
“ Safety at LRS starts with making sure that
everyone has the appropriate information,
equipment, and work environment needed
to operate safely and contribute to the
team,” he said. “More importantly, it’s about
everyone looking out for one another to
make a difference,” he said.
Team spirit is high at each of the five LRS
facilities. Many on staff have worked
together for years, helping to build and
keep a culture of safety in place.
Above and beyond minimum
requirements
LRS is required to meet standards set
by federal regulatory bodies, including
the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, the Department of
Transportation, and the Environmental
Protection Agency. LRS chooses to
go further.
“We are focusing on going above and
beyond what the company is required to do
to ensure the health and safety of all
employees,” Steve said. “For example, we
have been analyzing vehicle incidents to
pinpoint the highest-risk maneuvers so
we can better equip and train drivers on
how to manage them.”
As a result, the following updated safety
measures have been implemented:
• Providing driver training that emphasizes
special procedures and precautions for
merging and backing-up, as well as proper use of safety alerts, such as running
strobes and sounding a horn when leaving
confined or visually obstructed areas
• Providing a newly updated health and
safety manual for all personnel
• Hosting regular safety meetings and
“toolbox talks” at all LRS locations
• Providing instruction in safe physical
movement and handling of equipment,
especially for those responsible for moving
containers
• Providing new driver shirts and new
protective equipment (hardhats,
safety vests and safety glasses) for all
employees who work in LRS Material
Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and at the new
Packers maintenance center
Inviting feedback
Feedback from employees, customers, and
the general public is a critical component
of any successful safety program. “Hearing
from our customers is very important so we
can improve our process,” Steve said.
Safe
ty
first
Along with new protective
equipment, LRS has introduced
updated uniforms like the one
shown here, worn by Omar Funes
who handles one of Lakeshore’s
residential routes. As before,
uniforms feature reflective safety
stripes, and now include the
driver’s name and company logo
patches for security and
customer reassurance.
“The same is true for LRS personnel.
If a driver comes across a safety issue,
such as a dumpster path full of potholes,”
Steve said, “we ask them to shoot a photo
and email it to us so we can work to remedy
the problem as quickly as possible.”
Anyone with safety suggestions, comments,
or questions is encouraged to contact
Steve at SSholler@LRSrecycles.com.
773-685-8811 • www.lrsrecycles.com
3
#BeyondWaste
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with
4 #BeyondWaste
every day
Doing more for our customers and the environment
#BeyondWaste is our signature hashtag on social media, shorthand for what
differentiates Lakeshore Recycling Systems from our competition. LRS goes
#BeyondWaste every day, recycling and diverting more waste now than at any other
time in our history—and more than any other provider in the Chicago metro area.
Our goal going forward? We remain committed to diverting waste from landfills,
and reusing and recycling as much material as possible. Growing and scaling
each facility to its optimum capacity will be key for LRS as we grow and continually
strive to go #BeyondWaste.
The following are some examples of how
LRS goes #BeyondWaste, responding to
more of our customers’ needs and
stewarding more of the planet’s resources:
wood scraps
are sorted and processed into animal bedding—
some 900 to 1,000 tons each month of clean wood scraps are made useful.
eRecycling
All electronic waste that LRS collects goes to a
local recycler in Gilberts, Illinois, eliminating costly
shipping to offshore facilities that operate without
needing to observe EPA regulations that reduce
environmental impact.
clean concrete
Concrete rubble is taken to a
local processor who then
crushes and turns it into stone
aggregate for construction
projects.
railroad ties
plastic
is forwarded to multiple plastic recyclers in
Chicagoland, helping to keep our neighbors
employed and our local economy vital.
are cleaned, ground, and sent to DTE Energy in Wisconsin
where the recycled material is converted into electricity.
REgenerate • 3rd QUARTER 2014
glass bottles, jars, & broken glass
An average of 50 tons per month are taken to a local glass recycler that makes insulation.
cardboard & paper
are distributed to recyclers, saving (on average)
500 tons per month from being dumped into landfills.
roofing shingles
As much as 2,000 tons a month are taken to
a roofing recycler who converts them into
asphalt for paving roads.
electric power
creation
DID YOU
KNOW?
Lakeshore Recycling
Systems diverts more
than 300,000 tons of
recyclable material from
the waste stream to be
recycled and repurposed.
This is how we go
#BeyondWaste.
Through the acquisition of Heartland
Recycling, we have a new customer in
Covanta. Waste is trucked from Heartland
to Covanta in Indianapolis where it’s turned
into electricity at an electric power plant
that promotes zero waste.
LRS
Headquarters
Morton Grove
liquid back waste
is another new and promising area for LRS, thanks to the Heartland acquisition.
Vacuum trucks suck up dirt and grime, called Vactor waste, which is collected in pits,
solidified, and mixed with wood and sand, then transported to landfills.
composting
Grass clippings, branches, brush, and leaves in the fall are
converted into compost at our California and Heartland
MRFs. We also accept, process, and convert rotting or
perished produce to compost.
LRS
LRS
California Ave.
Chicago
Exchange Ave.
Chicago
LRS
LRS
34th & Pulaski
Chicago
City of
Chicago
LRS
By going #BeyondWaste we are not only making a massive environmental impact,
we are setting the industry standard on reusing and recycling the waste we receive,
diverting more waste from landfills than ever before.
773-685-8811 • www.lrsrecycles.com
Heartland
Forest View
5
e
w
whore
a
Clean. Green. Growing strong.
Mission
Statement
Lakeshore Recycling
Systems is the industry
leader in providing
innovative and
environmentally responsible
waste and recycling
solutions. Our team
delivers exceptional
service and value through
a relentless commitment
to customer satisfaction
and the preservation of
our environment.
Headquartered in Morton Grove, Ill.,
Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) is
Chicago’s leading recycling and waste
diversion services provider for businesses,
municipalities, and residential customers,
serving Chicagoland since 1996.
With its team of more than 400 dedicated
full-time employees, LRS operates five
material recovery and transfer facilities
that are viewed within the industry as the
gold-standard. LRS also has a growing fleet
of natural gas-powered trucks.
Delivering first-rate customer
service at fair prices
Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, LRS
offers the region’s most comprehensive
recycling and integrated waste management
solutions at a competitive price. LRS
delivers the highest levels of customer
service and a broad selection of equipment
to fit any size and type of project.
In addition to serving all 658 schools in
the Chicago Public Schools system, LRS
actively participates in the City of Chicago’s
6 Blue Cart Residential Recycling Program.
LRS also is the preferred recycling and
waste management partner to Skokie,
Evanston, Riverwoods, Bannockburn,
Golf and Deerfield (beginning ’15).
Caring for the environment
and our neighbors
LRS is proud to comply with the U.S.
Green Building Council’s LEED certification
prerequisites and with the City of
Chicago’s Recycling Ordinance.
LRS remains resolute in its commitment
to fostering meaningful dialogue and
broad-scale awareness to educate the
next generation on the importance of
environmental sustainability. From the pilot
composting project at James G. Blaine
Elementary School in partnership with
Chicago Public Schools to dialogue
sessions with kindergarten students,
LRS is putting the spirit behind our
REgenerate newsletter into action.
REgenerate • 3rd QUARTER 2014
Congratulations to LRS team
members celebrating anniversaries
July–September 2014
13 YEARS
6 YEARS
Johnathan Daggett
Enrique Analco
Chavez
Martin Gonzalez
Moises Hernandez
Hermenejildo Lopez
James Ludvik
Rufino Nieto
Uriel Ramirez
Fernando Stakes
Aldo Velazquez
12 YEARS
Juan Benavides
Tadeusz Wojdyla
9 YEARS
Jacobo Barrientos
Agnes K. Bawarski
John B. Bouquet
Jose Luis Duran
George Jungjohan
Wladyslaw Majerczyk
Mark Sredin
8 YEARS
Sergio Arias
Angel Fernandez
John Hession*
Juan Jimenez
Juan Lopez
Lino Ocon
Benjamin Tellez
7 YEARS
Ediberto Aguilar
Roberto Aguilar
Richard Crema
Jane Daniels
Jose Hernandez
Amador Juarez
William Kiemel*
Gerardo Marquez
Jesus Ramirez Jr.
Leonel Ruiz
Elias Sotelo
5 YEARS
Jose Cortes
Alejandro Elias
Rene Medina
Maria Perez
4 YEARS
Reenie Collaro
Jeff Haile
Luis Landa
Santos Landa
Gregory Leonard
Juan Alberto Orozco
John Zendol
3 YEARS
Michael Boss
Christopher Dortch
Hector Frias
Jessie Hill
Carlo Hood
Navarro Latiker
Edgar Lopez
Andres Rivera
Armando Solis
773-685-8811 • www.lrsrecycles.com
3 YEARS
(continued)
happ
y
anni
versa
ry
Samuel Solis
Jose Tinoco
Matthew Vela
Eleuterio Zizumbo
2 YEARS
Jesus Benitez
Dylan Bowden
Jay Hollander
Rebecca Lewis
Timothy Marsiglio
Carlos Ruiz
Boguslaw Wojdyla
1 YEAR
James Babuskow
Stephen Hudson
Nicholas Kotlarz
Sari Markoff
William Mellas Jr.
Juan Munoz
Benjamin Navarro
Hector Ortiz
Jorge Pineda
Harry Sargent
Russell Slovey III
Thomas Vantholen
Carrie Velkover
Matthew Worley
LRS salutes
recent retirees
With appreciation for their many
contributions to the LRS team,
we proudly salute recently
retired coworkers.
• Thanks and happy
retirement to John Hession
for eight years of service.
•B
est wishes to William Kiemel,
who retired after completing
seven years of service with
Lakeshore.
•O
ur thanks to Alfonso Rios,
part of the LRS team for
nine years.
• Congratulations, Calvin Shaw,
and many thanks for all your
efforts through your 11½
years with Lakeshore.
*retired
7
e
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o
empl ight
spotl
In the employee spotlight:
Armando Aguilar, California MRF Line Worker
Line Worker Armando Aguilar, at right, with Day-Shift Supervisor Mark Sredin, who
convinced Armando to join LRS in 2007, pictured at the California Avenue facility.
Like every company, Lakeshore Recycling
Systems succeeds on the contributions of
its employees. With employees like Armando
Aguilar, it’s easy to see why.
“ I worked with Armando at another recycling
company,” Armando’s Supervisor Mark
Sredin recalled. “I was still in touch with him
in 2007, when I was looking to build our
team. Armando was always an early starter,
willing to go the extra step—just the kind of
hard worker we were looking for.”
Good move, good fit
“ Mark thought I’d be happier at Lakeshore,
and he was right,” Armando said.
Originally hired as a general laborer,
Armando now works the recyclables line
six days a week from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m., and
is responsible for retrieving cardboard and
paper commodities. Every month, Armando
and his co-workers reclaim approximately
500 tons of cardboard and paper for
8 recycling—that’s 1.2 million pounds of
paper-based waste kept out of landfills and
converted for re-use every year.
Better environment,
more opportunity
Asked what he likes best about working
at LRS, Armando said, “The overall work
environment is better and the whole
operation is better managed. Plus, there’s
more to do.”
Armando said volume at the California Ave.
facility is up, which he attributes to a general
uptick in recycling combined with LRS
attracting more customers. “That’s good for
the environment,” he said, “and good for
employees because we have an opportunity
to work more hours.”
Helping his family succeed
Since joining LRS, Armando has helped
both of his children pay for college. His son,
REgenerate • 3rd QUARTER 2014
a University of Illinois at Chicago graduate,
is an architectural engineer, working in
San Antonio. His daughter, a student at
Northeastern Illinois University, plans to
teach middle school.
Armando’s earnings have also allowed his
wife to retire early, something his children
insisted on. He and his wife also travel. They
make an annual trip to Mexico each year, as
well as visit their children.
The rewards of city life
Asked what he does to recharge his
batteries, Armando said he exercises, eats
well, and enjoys time in his garden, where
he grows flowers and vegetables, including
a variety of peppers.
He also takes advantage of the city,
the lakefront, and other attractions.
“ I especially like going to the zoo,”
Armando said. “I grew up on a farm,
taking care of animals—livestock, horses,
cows. I still like being around them.”
Employees like Armando make
the difference
“ We’re fortunate to have a very loyal,
dependable crew,” Mark explained.
“ They’re all a good bunch, especially
Armando. He has an outstanding
attendance record, comes in early every
day, and is always willing to do whatever
it takes to get the job done right. I’m proud
to have him on my team.”
A special thanks to Miguel Muñoz,
Assistant Night Dispatcher at the LRS
California facility, who acted as translator
for our conversation with Mr. Aguilar.
DID YOU
KNOW?
Courtesy of Lincoln Park Zoo
REgenerate is printed
on ENVIRONMENT®
Papers by Neenah Paper,
Inc., manufactured from
100% post-consumer
fibers that are processed
chlorine-free using 100%
renewable electricity.
Lincoln Park Zoo, one of Armando’s favorite spots, is one of the country’s last free zoos
and is open 365 days a year.
773-685-8811 • www.lrsrecycles.com
9
t
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spot ard
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LRS Spotlight
on Achievement:
Award Recipient Karla Ruiz
Lakeshore’s Managing Officer Rich Golf bestows the 2014 Third Quarter Spotlight on
Achievement Award to Karla Ruiz.
Comments?
Suggestions?
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welcome
Help us make our
REgenerate quarterly
newsletter more interesting
and useful to you.
Send your comments
or suggestions to
info@lrsrecycles.com —
thank you!
In nominating Lakeshore Recycling Systems
staff member Karla Ruiz for the quarterly
Spotlight on Achievement Award, Manager
Sylvia Corona said Karla “has become the
‘go-to’ employee at the LRS California office
since she joined the team in 2011. Karla is
always willing to help—from billing-related
issues to training a new employee or
customer, she’s always polite, professional
and thorough. Her co-workers as well as
upper management continually depend on
her knowledge of the industry, especially
with bringing our newly acquired facility,
Heartland Recycling, up to speed. Her
suggested ways to streamline billing for LRS’
roll-off division have been implemented,
creating a more efficient process in meeting
internal deadlines.”
Fellow co-worker Denise Tunzi shared
that Karla is a phenomenal cook, and that
her flan previously won the intra-office
dessert contest. “Karla is family-oriented
and a wonderful mother,” stated Denise.
“ She has a wonderful husband and two
loving boys. Her oldest just started
playing football.”
Congratulations, Karla on your achievement!
We appreciate your being such a strong
asset for the LRS team.
How to nominate a fellow employee
Lakeshore’s Spotlight on Achievement Award
is awarded on a quarterly basis to one
employee who demonstrates a high level of
job performance, quality customer service,
and upholds Lakeshore Recycling Systems
mission. Nominations may be submitted by
any member of the Lakeshore Recycling
team, but the endorsement of the nominee’s
10 Karla’s co-worker Rachael O’Connor agrees
that Karla “is a great asset to the company.
She even goes above and beyond while
off-site, never hesitating to help a fellow
employee if requested. Karla has been an
absolute pleasure to work with.”
immediate supervisor must be recorded
on the nomination form. Nominations are
reviewed and judged by the LRS Executive
Management team. Nomination forms
can be requested from Ashley at the front
desk in Morton Grove or at
ALackovich@lrsrecycles.com.
REgenerate • 3rd QUARTER 2014
Lakeshore Recycling Systems inks exclusive
in-game “three-and-out” sponsorship with
WBBM’s Chicago Bears Radio Network
Lakeshore Recycling Systems,
Chicagoland’s leading independent
recycling and waste diversion services
provider, signed an exclusive in-game
marketing sponsorship with WBBM
Newsradio’s Chicago Bears Radio Network
for the 2014 season.
As part of the sponsorship, Bears play-byplay announcer Jeff Joniak will provide live
in-game mentions of LRS on every “threeand-out” stand by the Chicago defense.
Additional sponsorship features include
on-air commercials during the game and in
pre- and post-game coverage, as well as
game-day tickets to support ongoing LRS
business development and customer
relations initiatives.
“ Nothing epitomizes and galvanizes the
vibrant City of Chicago and our expansive
collar-county region more than the Chicago
Bears and WBBM Newsradio’s outstanding
coverage week-after-week,” said Lakeshore
CEO Alan T. Handley. “We are thrilled to
align the LRS brand and reputation with
these respected and venerable Chicago
institutions, and to join the growing family
of WBBM Bears Radio Network sponsors,
partners and supporters.”
With primary operations in Chicago and
its suburbs, LRS is a diversified waste
services company providing commercial,
residential, recycling and roll-off waste
collection and diversion services to more
than 6,000 commercial and municipal
customers. LRS operates five Materials
Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in Illinois, and
is the recent recipient of Chicago Public
Schools’ coveted Best Partnership Award
for suppliers who demonstrate superior
commitment to students and a strong
track record of collaboration.
In June, LRS acquired Forest View, Ill.-based
Heartland Recycling, and as a result, the
company now processes more than 1.5
million tons of waste material annually, and
controls and processes more waste than
any other private company in Illinois.
Tune in to Chicago Bears Radio
and listen for LRS “three-andout” announcements.
Chicago Bears 2014
Scoreboard to Date
Sept. 7 BEARS warm up with Bills
20-23
Sept. 14 BEARS WIN over 49ers
28-20
Sept. 22 BEARS WIN over Jets
27-19
Sept. 28 BEARS yield to Packers
17-38
DID YOU
KNOW?
Each day, Lakeshore
Recycling Systems
redirects nearly 3,000
tons of solid waste to
be recycled…
this is how we go
#BeyondWaste.
Oct. 05 BEARS miss with Panthers 24-31
Oct. 12 BEARS WIN over Falcons 27-13
Farewell, Hector
Rich Golf and his wife, Suzette, had to say
goodbye to their beloved bulldog, Hector.
He was nine years old and had recently
begun battling serious health issues. He
passed at home with Rich and Suzette by
his side, and was laid to rest at the Hinsdale
Animal Cemetery on Sept. 13, 2014. Hector
was part of the team at the California Ave.
location and will be greatly missed.
Hector 7/25/05 – 9/13/14
773-685-8811 • www.lrsrecycles.com
11
6132 Oakton Street
Morton Grove, IL 60053-2718
Connect with us online and through social media
chec
out o k
new t ur
ab
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
to learn how we’re serving
more of the lakeshore and
metro Chicagoland.
www.lrsrecycles.com
FOLLOW US on social media and
participate in the conversation on
LinkedIn, Twitter @LRSrecycles, and
Facebook.
,
s
u
w
o
l
l
o
f too!
#BeyondWaste
12 773-685-8811 • www.lrsrecycles.com