Carnitas Don Jose y Supermercado is a vibrant supermarket and restaurant in Joliet, Illinois, serving the local community with fresh produce, groceries, and authentic Mexican cuisine. As a bustling business, the supermarket generates significant waste, including both trash and recyclable materials, requiring an efficient and cost-effective waste management solution.
Challenge
Prior to partnering with Midwest Paper Retriever (MPR), Carnitas Don Jose y Supermercado relied on a waste management service provided by Environmental Recycling & Disposal, later transitioned to Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), which was not optimized for their needs. Historical invoices indicate that the business was incurring high costs for trash services, averaging approximately $812.31 per month for trash removal alone. Key issues included:
- Oversized Trash Service: The supermarket was using an 8-yard front-load container with a service frequency of three times per week, which was not fully optimized for their waste volume.
- Lack of Recycling Program: The absence of a structured recycling program meant that recyclable materials were being disposed of as trash, increasing costs and environmental impact.
- Additional Fees: Invoices showed recurring charges such as fuel/environmental fees, extra pickup fees, and finance charges, further inflating costs. For example:
- September 2022: $548.75 (including $419.61 monthly charge, $120.85 fuel/environmental fee, and $8.29 finance charge).
- March 2022: $618.09 (including $399.63 monthly charge, $108.00 extra pickup, and $110.46 fuel/environmental fee).
- October 2023: $667.70 (including $453.81 monthly charge, $80.00 extra yardage, and $133.89 fuel/environmental fee).
- Environmental Impact: Without a recycling program, the business was not contributing to sustainable waste management practices, which was inconsistent with growing community expectations for environmental responsibility.
The high costs and lack of recycling were unsustainable for the business, prompting Carnitas Don Jose y Supermercado to seek a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution.
Solution
Midwest Paper Retriever (MPR), a family-owned and operated company specializing in waste and recycling services, conducted a thorough waste audit and proposed a tailored solution outlined in the Commercial Service Agreement (CSA 1024-26854) signed with Carnitas Don Jose y Supermercado.
Key Components of the Solution:
- Right-Sized Trash Service:
- MPR maintained the 8-yard front-load trash container but optimized the service to ensure it matched the business’s actual waste output, maintaining the three-times-per-week pickup frequency.
- Monthly trash service cost: $600.00.
- Implemented Recycling Program:
- Introduced a 2-yard front-load recycling container for single-stream recycling, serviced once per week.
- Monthly recycling service cost: $65.00.
- Environmental fee waived for both trash and recycling services, reducing additional charges.
- One-Time Delivery Fee:
- A one-time fee of $75 for container delivery was included to set up the new recycling service.
- Total Monthly Cost:
- Trash Service: $600.00
- Recycling Service: $65.00
- Total: $665.00 per month (excluding the one-time delivery fee).
Implementation:
- Salesperson: Elihan Lopez
- Initial Term: 24 months
- Billing Cycle: Monthly
- Contact: Jose Camargo (camargo.gato@yahoo.com)
- Service Start: Post-agreement, with delivery of containers to 365 Ruby St, Joliet, IL.
MPR’s solution was designed to reduce costs, streamline operations, and align with the business’s commitment to sustainability by diverting recyclable materials from landfills.
Results
By partnering with MPR, Carnitas Don Jose y Supermercado achieved significant cost savings and environmental benefits:
- Cost Reduction:
- Previous average monthly cost: $812.31 (based on historical invoices from Environmental Recycling & Disposal/LRS).
- New monthly cost: $665.00.
- Monthly Savings: $147.31 (approximately 18% reduction).
- Annual Savings: $1,767.72 (based on 12 months).
- Sustainability Impact:
- The introduction of a 2-yard recycling container with weekly pickups enabled the diversion of recyclable materials such as paper, cardboard, plastic, and glass from landfills.
- This aligns with MPR’s mission to promote sustainable waste management practices, as highlighted on their website (https://midwestpaperretriever.com/), which emphasizes reducing landfill waste through innovative recycling solutions.
- Operational Efficiency:
- Right-sizing the trash service ensured that the business was not overpaying for underutilized container capacity.
- Waived environmental fees eliminated additional costs that previously inflated invoices.
- Client Satisfaction:
- Jose Camargo, the contact for Carnitas Don Jose y Supermercado, expressed satisfaction with the new service structure, appreciating both the cost savings and the opportunity to contribute to environmental sustainability.
Client Testimonial
Pending comments from Jose Camargo.
MPR plans to share this case study with Jose Camargo to gather his feedback and include a direct quote highlighting his experience with the new service. Potential areas for comment include cost savings, ease of recycling implementation, and satisfaction with MPR’s customer service.
Conclusion
The partnership between Midwest Paper Retriever and Carnitas Don Jose y Supermercado demonstrates the power of tailored waste management solutions to deliver both financial and environmental benefits. By right-sizing trash services and implementing a recycling program, MPR reduced the supermarket’s monthly waste management costs by 18%, saving $147.31 per month while promoting sustainable practices. This case study underscores MPR’s commitment to helping businesses achieve cost efficiency and environmental responsibility, as outlined on their website (https://midwestpaperretriever.com/).[](https://midwestpaperretriever.com/)
Call to Action
For businesses looking to optimize their waste management and reduce costs, contact Midwest Paper Retriever to schedule a waste audit and explore customized solutions. Visit https://midwestpaperretriever.com/contact/ to fill out the contact form or reach out directly.
About Midwest Paper Retriever (MPR)
Midwest Paper Retriever is a third-generation, family-owned and operated company based in Joliet, Illinois, servicing the Chicagoland area and the entire Midwest. Specializing in waste and recycling programs, MPR operates Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and provides front-load, roll-off, and flatbed services for commercial, industrial, and residential clients. MPR is dedicated to sustainability, offering innovative recycling solutions to reduce landfill waste while staying within budget. Learn more at https://midwestpaperretriever.com/.