Republic Services: Waste as a Resource, World’s Largest Recycling Operation Up and Running.

New multi-stream system debuted at Republic Services' Newby Island Resource Recovery Park

Republic Services has officially flipped the switch on theworld's largest recycling operation, which can process up to 110 tons-per-hour of multiple waste streams, and sets a new standard for the recycling industry. The facility will process all of the commercial waste generated by businesses in San Jose, California. In addition, the facility is expected to divert at least 80 percent of material collected.

Until now, the system for collecting commercial waste was managed by 20 different haulers with four to six of the haulers providing standard garbage/recycling collection services. Additionally, rates varied widely for similar services and neighboring businesses with less than half of the businesses receiving recycling service. The new program views waste as a resource. It provides standard recycling services for all and introduces the recycling of organics using advanced technology that generates energy from waste.

"At Republic Services, we take our role as environmental stewards very seriously and have been dedicated to protecting the environment from the beginning," said Gil Cheso, Republic Services division manager. "We are proud that in partnership with our service cities, we have met or exceeded California's waste diversion requirements. The improvements in our facility allow us to operate at a higher-capacity which increases the diversion rate for our recycling programs and supports our community's green initiatives. This greatly enhances our overall positive environmental impact."

City of San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed spoke at the event and discussed the importance of working together to achieve greater sustainability in our communities. "Our businesses and community will benefit from this new approach to commercial waste recycling," said Reed. "The new service will include the recycling of organic waste which will help businesses and the City alike achieve their sustainability goals. The investment in advanced waste processing facilities generates new green jobs, turns waste into energy, and once again demonstrates San Jose's innovative leadership toward a sustainable future and moves the City significantly closer to achieving its Green Vision goal of diverting 100 percent of its waste from landfills and converting that waste in to energy."

Republic's commitment to advancing sustainability continues with the modernization at the Company's 342-acre Newby Island Recycling Complex. The hauling company operates nearly 70 natural gas vehicles and provides wet/dry collection service to all San Jose businesses, and residential and commercial service to the City of Milpitas; commercial and industrial service in the Cities of San Jose and Santa Clara. The landfill recovers landfill gas and features an onsite compressed natural gas fueling station. (8/11/2012)

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