As Depot Manager of EMR New Castle, located in Wilmington Delaware, Rebecca Phillippi ensures one of EMR USA’s busiest yards operates at the highest standards possible each and every day.
“You have to be productive and driven to work here – there’s always something to do – and we all work really well together to get the job done,” she says.
One of the things which first attracted Rebecca to the role was the chance to get her ‘hands dirty’ and learn more about the materials EMR handles every day.
“When I started my career in this industry, I spent my days in a suit – very different from how you’ll find me on the yard,” she says. “I really find fun in the chance to put on a hard hat and spend my days working outdoors.”
And the ever-changing nature of life at a busy recycling facility means every day is different for Rebecca and her team:
“The first thing I do is make sure that all of the vital parts of the operation are functioning properly. This includes the weighbridge, any heavy machinery in operation – right down to the ATM and the software on our computers.
“Then, throughout the day, my team might buy some material that they've never seen before and ask how handle it. I’m there to answer those employee questions and deliver any necessary training. It’s different every day.”
EMR New Castle is a hybrid yard – located in an industrial area but serving local homes nearby. This makes offering high levels of customer service particularly important.
“I spend a lot of time answering customer questions, meeting new customers and chatting with regulars.”
Fortunately, Rebecca can draw on her experiences early in her career as the general manager of a busy restaurant.
“It helps to have the background I have, because not every customer is going to come in and always be bubbly and respectful and, sometimes, you need to have a lot of patience,” she says.
In an industry that has been male dominated for so long, there have been additional obstacles for Rebecca to overcome:
“I do get questions such as ‘Is your husband or father the owner?’ and I have to say, no, I worked my way up to become a Depot Manager, learning and training as I went.”
Nonetheless, this is changing and she believes more young people should consider a career in the recycling industry when they leave high school.
“When you're growing up, teachers and career advisors tend to promote certain roles, such as becoming a police officer or firefighter, which are great, but a lot of kids don't realize they don't have to stick to that script.
“When you work in the recycling industry, you're doing something important, and it’s a career where you can learn as you go, and develop a skill set and get yourself on a rewarding and resilient career path without a huge student loan at the end of it.”
The industry has also given Rebecca many opportunities to challenge herself, gain new skills and enhance her career:
“Initially, I was very intimidated by the idea of working with so much heavy machinery but learning how to operate each machine was really fulfilling – I now drive our loaders as well as I drive my car and can even parallel park them.”
As Rebecca’s career has advanced, however, it is her management of the yard which has brought her the most fulfilment.
“In this role, I’ve got a better understanding of the objectives of the whole company. I get to use my problem-solving skills for everything from managing my team to dealing with plumbing and heating issues on site. My professional development at EMR is something I’m really proud of,” she adds.
