Molok North America Newsletter, Autumn 2019 - 20th Anniversary Special Edition

NEWS
20th Anniversary Special Edition, Autumn 2019
Molok North America Ltd.
152 Harry Bye Blvd.
P.O. Box 693
Mount Forest, ON N0G 2L0
T: 519-323-9909 www.MolokNA.com
20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
As the evening of June 7th came upon
us, Molok North America’s production
facility was transformed into a venue
to celebrate our history alongside our
special guests, dignitaries, and friends.
A retrospective journey of Molok’s
first 20-years of operation, the evening
was humorous, inspiring, and at times,
emotional. Our guest MC’s, the busker/
comedy duo “The Silly People” kept
us entertained throughout the evening
interspersed with celebratory words
from special guests. The evening
culminated with inspiring words from
3-time gold medal Olympian and
author Marnie McBean (pictured right).

LEADERS IN THE INDUSTRY.
Molok North America
Founder, Marja Hillis
“Marja Hillis set the world of waste collection
alight when she arrived in Ontario with
passion and determination (more than)
20 years ago. We look back on her
life and the legacy she left behind
as we pay tribute to this trailblazing
Female CEO of the Year
2018”
Take a look at the full article
posted on MolokNA.com.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
When our founder Marja Hillis came to Canada
from Finland bringing the concept of the Molok® system
to the North America market she had a vision for the company,
and that was To Change the World One Molok® at a
Time! How was she to do that?
Firstly she had to establish credibility in the industry of
waste and recycling, and as she would tell the story, she
was a single mom trying to sell her daddy’s product in a
different country and in a male dominated industry. Secondly
she would need to find a place in Canada where
the provincial laws and incentives were supportive of small
businesses, where there was a stable and skilled work force
available, and good transportation routes for inbound raw
materials and outbound finished products. It needed to be
in the near proximity of the major markets in Canada, and
also needed to have good commercial real estate available
along with reasonable development charges to encourage
construction and growth.
The waste industry in North America is a fickle industry
dominated by a few major players, that are set in their ways
with an established convention of “how to’s” when dealing
with waste and recyclables in a mature market. Marja
would tell the story about her first years at the Canadian
Waste and Recycling Expo when, in her first year of exhibiting,
most industry professionals would kind of look right
through her and her Molok® exhibit as if it weren’t there.
The following year they would still look right through her as
if she was not there, but while walking by they would mutter
under their breath “she’s still here?” The third year they
would say “well I might as well find out what this Molok®
thing is all about. She doesn’t seem to be going away real
fast.”
So why did we locate Molok North America here, where
the municipalities of North Wellington, West Grey, and
Southgate come together. The confluence of these three
primarily rural communities, along with their rich agricultural
history, create a strong and stable pool of employees
with an excellent work ethic and strong technical skills that
in my estimation are second to none in the province. Quick
and easy access to national and international shipping markets
for inbound goods, strengthen our supply chain, and
helps us to manage logistical costs for outbound shipments
making this area the perfect location for establishing and
growing the Molok® system in North America.
When Molok North America began in Canada 20-years ago,
Marja’s office consisted of a desk in her closet at her home.
From those humble beginnings we now occupy a 50,000
square foot facility on six acres with the property to more
than double the footprint. Our vision of changing the world
one Molok® at a time, and our inclusive culture of honesty
and integrity within a family-like work environment, have
allowed us to become leaders in the world of semi-underground
waste containment that others aspire to follow. We
will only look back to see how far we have come.
Mark Hillis
President & CEO
Molok North America Ltd.

FIRE TESTING
Following earlier independent testing in 2003, extensive testing was
again conducted in November of 2011 to assess the reaction of
Molok® containers to a fire that may be deliberately or accidently
set. Through these series of fire tests, the testing agency was able to
observe the reaction of a Molok® container to combustion.
The tests presented in the report show that a fire ignited within
a MOLOK container takes a significantly long time to develop
to full intensity. This is due to the fact that the fire cannot
be sustained due to a lack of oxygen. A fire inside a recycled
paper container can take up to an hour to develop into its
most intense phase, often not even reaching that phase. Due
to its engineering and design, the main self-closing lid will
melt and collapse, preventing the fire from obtaining enough
oxygen to be sustained. In the case of containers used for
household domestic waste, the results were similar.
As a result of the engineering and design of the Molok®
system, its semi-underground installation, the waste
being kept cool, the higher and contained humidity,
the melt point of the high density polyethylene (HDPE),
the opportunity for a Molok® container to ignite and
sustain a vigorous fire is minimized. This allows emergency
vehicles to respond with ample time to contain a fire
before significant damage occurs.
Both the 2003 and the 2011 independent fire tests are
available on our website at www.molokna.com.
revolutionary innovation

20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Mayor of West Grey,
Christine Robinson
Molok Inventor
& Founder,
Veikko Salli

20
Executive Director, Ontario
Parks Association, Paul Ronan
Mona Hillis with
CEO & President
Molok North America,
Mark Hillis
MPP of Perth
Wellington,
Randy Pettapiece
Keynote Speaker,
Marnie McBean

ORGANICS
Molok® containers are emptied
through the bottom of the
reusable lifting liner. The collector
simply attaches the hoist to the
lifting liner, positions it over the
truck and pulls a rope to release the
contents. This emptying method is
quick, easy and safe for collection
staff. The container, its user lid and
surroundings stay clean because
waste is lifted out instead of tipped.
• Containers can be located
beside shrubs, curbs,
sidewalks, in narrow
alleyways, and even behind
fences because the main well
is never moved.
• The truck does not have
to approach containers
from a specific direction,
allowing for flexible site
placement.
• The waste can be
weighed easily to
provide accurate data
for studies, audits or
data calls.
HYGENIC AND EFFICIENT
COLLECTION METHOD
FOR COMPOSTABLE
WASTE
The Molok® BioSystem® is ideal for
collecting organic waste at multiresidential
units, schools, restaurants,
or anywhere organics collection is
required. The BioSystem® container
is emptied through the bottom of a
hard-sided, reusable lifting liner. A
liquid reservoir at the bottom of the
lifting liner captures any residual
liquids and is emptied at the same
time.
Benefits of the Molok® system for
organics collection:
• The container is available all day
every day.
• Cooler underground temperatures
minimize odours, eliminating urban
wildlife issues.
• With 800-litres capacity (SWL
400kg) the BioSystem® is the largest
residential organics collection system.
• Larger volumes mean fewer pickups
for depot collection points creating
operating efficiencies with less
environmental impact.

EARTH RANGERS REPORT
The Earth Rangers Centre for Sustainable Technology is an advanced green building, certified Gold under LEED for New Construction
and Platinum under LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance. The Centre was designed to embody
Earth Rangers’ values, showing that we practice what we preach, and inspiring everyone who walks through our doors.
Home to the Earth Rangers Animal Ambassadors and staff, the Centre is a showcase of cutting-edge sustainable building technology
such as energy metering, smart automation and controls, innovative water and wastewater management, solar generation,
green roofs, and geothermal heating and cooling.
This study by the Earth
Rangers Centre (ERC)
compares temperatures and
odour readings from ERC’s
temperature controlled waste room over a period of twoyears,
against Molok® containers which were installed
onsite for waste, recycling and organics collection.
During the course of the study the following were noted,
and are discussed in more detail in the final report,
available on request.
Temperature: Temperatures measured in the bottom
50-inches of both the waste and organics Molok containers
were at all times lower than the average temperature of
ERC’s temperature controlled waste room. Temperatures
measured in the top 25-inches of the containers were
lower than that of their conditioned waste room 78.7%
of the time.
Odours: At no time did odours directly outside the Molok
containers, exceed that of ERC’s temperature controlled
waste room.
Cost Efficiency: Based on data collected from building
sub-meters. The total energy consumption to operate
ERC’s temperature controlled waste room was 2,940 KWh,
which equates to an annual cost to condition ERC’s waste
room of approximately $323.42. The Molok containers,
utilizing the coolness of the earth, did not cost any energy
to condition or maintain. Therefore, the net savings to use
the Molok® container for the three streams collected,
waste, recycling and organics, would be $323.42 per year.
Summary: Overall, ERC’s findings indicate that the
Molok® system outperformed ERC’s temperature
controlled waste room in slowing decomposition by
keeping waste and organics at lower temperatures and
thereby reducing odours emanating from the Molok®
containers. This resulted in opportunities for better use of
ERC’s internal space, while reducing their operating costs
and subsequently their carbon footprint.

In the 2018 Downtown Cleanliness Survey,
Raleigh’s #1 issue was the rows of 96 gallon
carts lining the streets.
BREAKING NEW GROUND
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
Businesses and pedestrians
wanted a solution.
14 - 96 gallon carts collected twice a day Monday to Saturday and once Sunday
Waste Services in Raleigh wanted to improve efficiencies
and reduce costs while addressing the survey results.
“It’s a simple concept using innovative technology. The bottom line is that we
want to improve quality of life - and part of that is getting garbage carts off the
sidewalks and away from neighbors and visitors enjoying downtown.””
Stan Joseph, Solid Waste Services Director, City of Raleigh