MARTINEZ, Calif., April 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Republic
Services, Inc. today announced the opening of its first
Northern California organics
pre-processing facility, which will help Bay Area communities meet
the requirements of a new state law mandating diversion of food and
yard waste from landfills. The facility removes contamination from
food waste collected from businesses in Contra Costa County, and produces clean
organic material that is converted into renewable energy through a
partnership with the East Bay Municipal Utility District.
"As a leader in the environmental services industry, Republic
Services is committed to recovering key materials from the waste
stream and providing diversion solutions for our customers," said
Pete Keller, vice president of
recycling and sustainability. "Organics is an emerging sector,
especially in California,
providing tremendous potential for us to both grow our business and
strengthen the circular economy."
A state law (SB 1383) that goes into effect Jan. 1, 2022, will require every home and
business in California to recycle
their food and yard waste. More than 500 business customers
participate in food waste recycling through the Central Contra
Costa Solid Waste Authority's RecycleSmart program, which delivers
food waste to Republic's Martinez
facility. The new facility is capable of processing 20 tons of food
waste per hour. It is Republic's second organics pre-processing
operation in the state; its first opened in Anaheim in 2018. Republic is pursuing
additional similar opportunities throughout the state.
"Republic Services has been a service provider for RecycleSmart
for over 20 years, and they have always been innovative in their
approach to recycling," said Ken
Etherington, executive director of RecycleSmart. "We are
very excited about Republic's new pre-processing line to advance
recycling in the community."
After pre-processing, clean organic material is delivered to the
East Bay Municipal Utility District's wastewater treatment facility
in Oakland. Through anaerobic
digestion, the organic waste is converted into biogas, which is
used to generate electricity to power the treatment facility as
well as operations at the neighboring Port of Oakland.
"This pre-processing model is anticipated to expand
opportunities for EBMUD to receive more of this type of material
and increase renewable energy production in the future," said
John Hake, a senior civil engineer
at the East Bay Municipal Utility District.
In 2020, Republic Services was named Organics Recycler of the
Year by the National Waste & Recycling Association, a
recognition of the Company's innovation and leadership in diverting
food and yard waste from landfills. Organics recycling directly
supports Republic's sustainability goal to increase recovery of key
materials from the waste stream by 40% by 2030. To learn more about
Republic's Blue Planet® sustainability platform, visit
RepublicServices.com/sustainability.
About Republic Services
Republic Services, Inc. is a leader in the U.S. environmental
services industry. Through its subsidiaries, the Company provides
superior customer experience while fostering a sustainable Blue
Planet® for future generations to enjoy a cleaner, safer
and healthier world. For more information, visit
RepublicServices.com, or follow us at
Facebook.com/RepublicServices, @RepublicService on Twitter or
Republic Services on LinkedIn.
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SOURCE Republic Services, Inc.