About Birch Recycling
Mike started in the recycling world as an accountant for the largest recycling company in the world. When an opportunity came up to transition into the role of “buyer” he jumped at it. The thought of moving out from behind his desk to meeting and interacting with people is what inspired his move. What he discovered was most people in this business do not spend much time building relationships as he thought would have been the case. The years that followed were full of travel and getting to know ‘people’ versus getting to know ‘accounts’. He discovered he liked buying from people. He enjoyed giving them money. He not only made many contacts but he made many friends. Mike likes doing what no one else will do. No one wants to go to Council Grove, KS. Mike does. No one wants to go to Wahoo, NE. Mike does. No one wants to go to Cedar Rapids, IA. Mike does. Mike likes and will go to any small town in the Midwest that is generating recyclable materials.
Mike and his team scour the Midwest looking for those people and those places they can benefit them the most. Mike uses his creativity to logistically help people help themselves.
As the company saw his success in buying, they promoted him to General Manager. He was offered many upwardly mobile positions in various parts of the country. His love for Kansas City and keeping his family rooted in the Midwest always kept him in KC.
In 2000, Mike left to help start a local recycling company. He worked for that company for 8 years and when the founder left the company, Mike left as well and started Birch Recycling.
Although recycling is a commodity business, Mike believes it is more about relationships. His broad mix of clients gives him the unique opportunity to serve a diverse customer base. Pooling resources and extending his hand to help small and medium sized customers that would not be helped otherwise.
For example, Mike went to Arkansas to help a manufacturer that would not have had the opportunity to recycle. Mike had the logistical flexibility and the relationship with the end user and that combination helped this particular client.
Mike knows there are many opportunities for Birch Recycling because he is creative and willing to think outside the box.
Birch Recycling is where they are today due to their service, their pricing and their reputation for following through. They don’t walk away, they don’t leave people hanging, and they pay their bills on time.