Recycling used to be a cumbersome process, with individuals having to sort out different materials like plastic, glass and paper. These days, however, managing waste is becoming easier and easier, thanks to state-of-the-art facilities like the one that Waste Management, Inc. recently opened in Houston, Texas.

According to Waste Management World, the company just opened the 40,000 square foot Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and is considered to be one of the most technologically-advanced in the country. The building allows for a single-stream sorting system, which truly simplifies the process of collecting recyclables. The new source explains that the advancements in the MRF can increase recycling rates by 50 percent.

The simplicity of the process starts with the residents of Houston who no longer have to sort their recyclables. All they have to do is to place the materials in one single container for pickup and are then transported to the MRF. In the facility, the recyclables will automatically be sorted using state-of-the-art equipment, which includes magnets, optical scanners and screens.

The company tells Waste Management World that it has invested over $15 million into the facility, which can handle more than 9000 tons of waste a month. Besides the regular recyclables like paper, cardboard, plastic and glass, MRF also has the capability of accepting film plastic, as well as rigid plastics.

As a part of the $15 million investment program, Waste Management, Inc. also established an education center at the facility that will be used to host tour that can further educate residents of Houston. This can be a great option for schools looking to educate students on the importance of recycling.