18 Questions With DAK Recycling

18 Questions with Kevin Kaskel and Andrew Korn

1. What is your name? Kevin Kaskel
2. What is your occupation? CEO
3. What was your favorite (green) memory growing up? I saw people taking garbage from dumpsters and realized there was value & it’s beneficial for the planet.
4. What did you do before DAK Recycling? I worked for Indeed.com, the job search website.
5. Can you tell us what inspired you to start DAK Recycling? I watched Leonardo DiCaprio’s Before the Flood film and really became inspired.
6. How did you two partner up? Kevin called Andrew about the idea of selling cardboard since Andrew’s father is in the industry.
7. What are DAK recycling’s main goals? We want to open more facilities around the south and become fully integrated.
8. How is DAK recycling increasing environmental awareness? We recycle about 40 tons of Cardboard (OCC) every day, exporting to mostly China and India.
9. What is next for DAK Recycling? We are purchasing 3 acres of land and buying more equipment (balers) to diversify and do more grades of paper and plastic.
10. What are the most rewarding and challenging parts of your job? We come across mechanical problems with our machines and the trade war was tough… a lot of companies went out of business and we are one of the only ones left.
11. What is one environmental change you vow to make this year? We promise to get more equipment and recycle more equipment.
12. If there was one industry/product that you could make more eco-friendly, what would it be? All cars need to become electric… take away the engine & reduce C02 emissions.
13. What are the three major changes you would recommend people make in their day to recycle more? Separate food waste from material waste, dispose in proper bins and only use reusable kitchenware.
14. What mistake are people making when they recycle? People don’t take the time to sort metals, plastics, and paper material…
15. Where do you fall on the green scale? DAK Recycling prevents deforestations (building a forest and knocking it down for the pulp) by recycling the pre-used material. It is way more beneficial for the environment.
16. Do you lead a vegan lifestyle? No… I love meat.
17. Who would you want to have a conversation with past or present? Warren Buffet
18. What do you want your personal legacy to be? A successful entrepreneur who helped saved the planet and had fun doing it.