Months after some major changes to the Raven Recycling Society's operations, executive director Joy Snyder says she's pleased with the more efficient operations happening at the industrial area recycling centre.

"Now, we're just hungry for product,” she told reporters gathered at a press conference last Thursday afternoon to show off the Material Recovery Facility sorter and bailer Raven has had since July 2012.

Also on hand at the press conference was Dave Rothery, vice-president of waste paper for the Bluewater Project Inc., which provided a loan of $110,000 for Raven to purchase the equipment.

The loan is essentially a line of credit at a rate of prime plus what Snyder described as a small amount of interest. The payments work out to about $1,000 per month.

"We're very happy to help them grow,” Rothery said, later adding "it's a good partnership.”

Both he and Snyder cited the territory's goal of a 50 per cent diversion rate by 2015 and they hope the machinery at Raven could help them achieve that.

Previously, it took Raven a full day to produce 15 bails of material. With the bailer bought last year, it takes an hour.

Snyder also noted the machinery and operations will help Raven take advantage of the market, which can see fluctuations in which recyclable material is rendering the best price.

If cardboard, for instance, is getting a high price, Raven now has the space and machinery to focus on getting that bailed quickly and shipped south.

Work on Industrial Road last year next to Raven's depot saw some major changes to the facility. It took advantage of having to close the depot last summer while the road reconstruction was happening.

An outdoor bunker system, with concrete dividers, for dropping off materials replaced the bins that were previously outside, and customers no longer have to sort their plastics and paper.

Inside, the free store and deposit centre are now on one level and are much easier to clean with a concrete floor that has a drain and metal walls.

Snyder said all of the changes went fairly smoothly and are continuing to prove a benefit to the operations.

That has her focusing on what could be Raven's next project – having a roof built over the bunker system where residents drop their non-refundable recyclables.

She noted that while the snow hasn't proved to have had much impact on the material, rain could see some of it deteriorate.