Thousands of heavy-duty recycling carts from Hunting Park are discovered on construction sites across the U.S.

The TommyCart, a patented recycling cart made of welded steel, is gaining attention across construction sites in the United States, from the Wanamaker Building’s apartment conversion in Center City Philadelphia to the new Tennessee Titans stadium in Nashville. Developed by Richard S. Burns & Co., this innovative cart has been instrumental in improving recycling efficiency and quality.

The TommyCart was created in response to the challenges posed by the increasing volume of construction debris. Burns Services operates a 13-acre facility in Hunting Park, Philadelphia, where demolition waste is sorted for resale to steel mills, plastics manufacturers, and building material suppliers. The company found that traditional automatic sorting systems were ineffective, often wasting over half the material. Instead, the family-run business designed a heavy-duty cart that is more maneuverable than bulky dumpsters, allowing for more effective handling, weighing, and sorting of materials at crowded construction sites.

Since the introduction of the TommyCart in 2015, Burns Services has shipped thousands of these carts to construction projects not only in Philadelphia but also in Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Tennessee. The company has been able to successfully sell about 80% of the recyclables it collects, significantly enhancing the overall recycling process at construction sites. The goal for 2027 is to produce up to 3,000 TommyCarts, doubling this year’s output and tripling last year’s production.

In 2023, the company expanded its business model by offering the TommyCarts to other recycling companies. Burns Services has made an average of 500 carts annually since its inception, primarily for its own use. To stay competitive, the company is investing in robotic welding technology to increase production capacity from 15 carts per day to almost 50.

The TommyCart, named after one of the company’s business developers, has also proven beneficial for addressing challenges specific to urban construction. For instance, a Nashville builder engaged in a renovation for country music star Morgan Wallen faced logistical hurdles due to limited site access. By leasing TommyCarts, the contractor could efficiently sort and transport materials without the need for expensive hand-loading.

Burns emphasizes the importance of verifiable measurements for accountability in recycling, indicating that the automated system reads bar codes and records weights for appropriate payment. The TommyCart system not only simplifies the recycling process but also aligns with industry certifications, appealing to general contractors across the country.

As Burns Services continues to innovate, the company actively recruits a diverse workforce, offering competitive wages starting at .50 an hour. With plans to integrate more automation while retaining knowledgeable staff, Burns remains committed to optimizing recycling methods through smart technology, further solidifying the importance of sustainability in the construction industry.

Overall, the TommyCart offers a promising solution to enhance recycling efforts on construction sites while fostering economic growth and environmental responsibility in the construction sector.