ECUA received an update this week from the supplier providing the two conveyor belts needed to operate the processing lines. The revised shipping date is August 22, approximately two weeks later than originally scheduled. Allowing for shipping from the west coast and installation time, our new re-opening date is September 9, 2022. Meanwhile, we continue to use this downtime for important maintenance that generally requires a facility shutdown on other equipment.
The ECUA Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) was closed following the failure of an essential piece of equipment on June 16. This equipment, the second of two aging conveyor belts, was slated for replacement in this fiscal year. The ECUA Board approved the $82,000 purchase of two new replacement belts at its February 2022 meeting. Unfortunately, the existing equipment did not outlast the supply chain delays that are affecting so many businesses across the country, and which have now created an issue for the MRF as well. These conveyor belts are critical parts of the infeed system to the MRF and the facility cannot operate without them.
ECUA maintenance crews are taking advantage of this downtime to make repairs and perform maintenance work on equipment that generally requires a facility shutdown, as well as prepare for the installation of the new belts, to ensure the restoration of MRF operations as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, we are continuing normal recycling collection, and recyclables will, unfortunately, be landfilled. ECUA’s recycling program is a free opt-in service for residential sanitation accounts, and we urge our customers to keep in a positive recycling habit during this interruption in the recycling program.
We will continue to provide updates on the anticipated equipment delivery and the resumption of operations at the MRF as progress is made and information becomes available.