The Suit Magazine

Mark Armstrong, CEO of Lewis Clark Recyclers, Inc., is truly a pioneer in the rational processing of our waste materials.   Located on Idaho’s original capitol site in downtown Lewiston, LCRI’s  processing facility occupies three-quarters of a city block where the old original structure stood, safely accommodating the steady flow of small and large commercial trucks which bring materials to the facility—the rotation of inventory—and the shipping out of secondary commodities.

So what is the difference between LCRI’s services and the rest of the industry?  “We put a container on the premises, maybe in an alley, and educate staff on how to change behavior so as to minimize costs,” Armstrong said in his interview with The Suit Magazine.  “Our services save you twice as much as we charge you.  We can bring the disposal costs from the typical $70 per yard down to as low as $5 per yard.” 

The purpose of LCRI is the development and administration of waste reduction through source separation.  Its mechanical resources are designed to service commercial and industrial disposal diversion activities, along with the timely collection and processing of the growing volumes of various secondary materials recycled as a result of the programs. LCRI puts recyclables to reuse in secondary commodities which they package.
It has not been an easy path for Armstrong, he has had to forge a role for himself as a sole proprietor and entrepreneur.  “Since the 1950’s there have been buy-back centers; instead, I decided to provide a different service by going to the regional businesses in order to set up collection programs.”  But he was competing with established companies, and had to learn the rules of the game.    “I had to understand how the various players in the industry worked.  I worked with their rented equipment and used their materials, so they wouldn’t shut me down.  They were more into straight garbage hauling, but I needed to generate dollars, and needed their camaraderie.  Some take a while to realize that I’m not going away.”  

Armstrong’s creative thinking and dogged work ethic has enabled LCRI to thrive in a tough business.  He has added other services to the menu, such as shredding and baggage systems for recycled materials.   

When asked about the economic downturn, Armstrong says that “as a result of preparation we did while as others went out of business, we took over the jobs that became available.”  That foresight has served Armstrong well.  “I saw as early as 2007 that China, Singapore and Europe were seeing backlogs in inventory,” he added.  “So I restructured our operating budget, reduced payroll costs, refinanced creatively, and strengthened buy/sell arrangements  with buyers of our  secondary commodity markets.”    

“I have always seen the need for community-based programs in addition to schools and businesses,” he said.  LCRI’s collection routes operate around the clock, seven days a week, accounting for over 200 tons of materials being diverted daily from disposal and processed for reuse in secondary applications.  The number of regional households, businesses and individuals satisfied by LCRI’s services increases daily.  “We even extend our services to industrial facilities  in Illinois, Texas and Nevada, which ship materials by truck to our facility.”

An awareness of the needs of the community has always been important to Armstrong.  “[LCRI] offers our services to several non-profits on a pro-bono basis,” he said.  A self-made businessman, Armstrong began working at the age of 14, getting his GED at the age of 30.  His pragmatism and basic values are reflected in his opinions about the recent health care bill.  “It’s way too early to tell.  It will be another cost, another tax.  But if it makes our country a better place and a better place for our children, it will be good.” He said.  . 
Since 1990, LCRI has been recognized with several prestigious awards for the innovative and sustained efforts that have made the company such a success, including those presented by the State of Idaho Governors Office and the Idaho Dept. of Commerce.
Armstrong has built a company that answers an important need in today’s world.  LCRI is educating people who run commercial and industrial facilities on how to minimize their waste, and he is processing that waste in an efficient manner, reusing as much as possible in the production of secondary commodities.  And most importantly to every government agency, business or individual that LCRI services, everything is accomplished at a greatly reduced cost.  A winning formula. 
 

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