Commitments
Recology is the pioneer in resource recovery. We are proud to have launched:
- The first anaerobic digestion of source separated food scraps to create electricity in the United States, beginning in 2004.
- The first curbside composting program in the United States, piloted in 1996.
- The first use of the split-body truck for efficient recycling and garbage collection in 1999.
- The first large scale transfer station in the industry. It opened in November 1970.
- The world renowned Artist in Residence Program in 1990 allowing local artists to find materials in our processing facilities to create art.
- One of the first household hazardous waste drop-off facilities and collection programs in California as part of municipal solid waste with the City and County of San Francisco.
Each Recology subsidiary offers unique recycling programs and services to benefit the communities we serve and to advance our industry toward WASTE ZERO. We continue to look for innovative ways to increase the recovery of resources in the communities we serve.
Advanced Facilities and Technologies
Optimizing resource recovery involves using the right facilities, technologies, and practices. Recology is constantly evaluating new technologies and refining its approach to WASTE ZERO.
Anaerobic Digestion
In 2004, Recology began collaborating with the East Bay Municipal Utility District to transform food scraps into fuel. By feeding the organic material to anaerobic digesters at EBMUD's Wastewater Treatment Plant in Oakland, California, we have avoided emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from organic material that would have otherwise gone to landfills. The food scraps is preprocessed by Recology, transformed into biogas, and used to generate energy. The project is the first of its kind in the United States.
Composting Facilities
Recology owns and operates several large-scale composting facilities that utilize state of the art composting technology in California to transform food scraps, yard debris, and other biodegradable material into compost for use as soil amendments by agricultural industries. Our compost is sought out by over 200 vineyards and local farms in California and Oregon.
Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs)
Recology is proud to have an internationally-recognized single-stream MRF. We now own or operate facilities where recyclable materials like paper, plastic, wood, metal, electronics and fibers are sorted and prepared as inputs into their next use.
Truck and Vehicle Fleet
We operate using the cleanest technology available today.
Fully-automated and semi-automated
Recology collects resources for recovery and disposal using automated and semi-automated trucks. Using a joystick, and other automated controls, drivers can efficiently collect heavy bins while minimizing physical strain. The fully-automated trucks are the best available technology in the market and create efficiencies that are passed on to our customers. These trucks make collection quieter over the older models, and consume less fuel.
Split-body
Recology pioneered the use of the split-body collection truck. These trucks make it possible to efficiently collect garbage and recyclables and reduce the number of trucks on the road, which in turns reduce our GHG emissions. Recycling and garbage are never mixed. The trucks have two compartments that keep source-separated recyclables in a separate compartment from landfill-bound garbage.
Alternative fuels
Alternative fuel vehicles are part of our daily operation. The majority of our fleet is fueled by alternatives to gasoline and diesel. This includes trucks that run on biodiesel, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and compressed natural gas (CNG).
Renewable Energy Generation
In 2007 Recology partnered with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and installed solar panels on the roof of the Recycle Central® facility at Pier 96. These solar panels are capable of producing 30% of the recycling facility's electricity, generating more than 380,000 KWh annually.
Recology is currently also using solar energy at the Environmental Learning Center and our Hay Road Landfill in Vacaville.
Recology uses clean wind power to supply electricity to the Metro Central Transfer Station in Portland, Oregon.
Landfill Gas-to-Energy
As part of our commitment to making the best and highest use of all materials, we collect the gas that is naturally created from the decomposition of materials in an anaerobic environment and turn that gas into electricity at our landfills. Recology continues to take steps towards voluntarily reducing our landfill GHG emissions. Through the ClimateSmart™ program, Recology voluntarily captures and destroying methane at our California landfills, further reducing our negative environmental impacts.
Anaerobic Digestion
In 2004, Recology began collaborating with the East Bay Municipal Utility District to transform food scraps into fuel. By feeding the organic material to anaerobic digesters at EBMUD's Wastewater Treatment Plant in Oakland, California, we have avoided emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from organic material that would have otherwise gone to landfills. The food scraps is preprocessed by Recology, transformed into biogas, and used to generate energy. The project is the first of its kind in the United States.
Composting Facilities Recology owns and operates several large-scale composting facilities that utilize state of the art composting technology in California to transform food scraps, yard debris, and other biodegradable material into compost for use as soil amendments by agricultural industries. Our compost is sought out by over 200 vineyards and local farms in California and Oregon.
Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs)
Recology is proud to have an internationally-recognized single-stream MRF. We now own or operate facilities where recyclable materials like paper, plastic, wood, metal, electronics and fibers are sorted and prepared as inputs into their next use.
Truck and Vehicle Fleet
We operate using the cleanest technology available today.
Fully-automated and semi-automated
Recology collects resources for recovery and disposal using automated and semi-automated trucks. Using a joystick, and other automated controls, drivers can efficiently collect heavy bins while minimizing physical strain. The fully-automated trucks are the best available technology in the market and create efficiencies that are passed on to our customers. These trucks make collection quieter over the older models, and consume less fuel.
Split-body
Recology pioneered the use of the split-body collection truck. These trucks make it possible to efficiently collect garbage and recyclables and reduce the number of trucks on the road, which in turns reduce our GHG emissions. Recycling and garbage are never mixed. The trucks have two compartments that keep source-separated recyclables in a separate compartment from landfill-bound garbage.
Alternative fuelsAlternative fuel vehicles are part of our daily operation. The majority of our fleet is fueled by alternatives to gasoline and diesel. This includes trucks that run on biodiesel, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and compressed natural gas (CNG).
Renewable Energy Generation
In 2007 Recology partnered with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and installed solar panels on the roof of the Recycle Central® facility at Pier 96. These solar panels are capable of producing 30% of the recycling facility's electricity, generating more than 380,000 KWh annually.
Recology is currently also using solar energy at the Environmental Learning Center and our Hay Road Landfill in Vacaville.
Recology uses clean wind power to supply electricity to the Metro Central Transfer Station in Portland, Oregon.
Landfill Gas-to-Energy
As part of our commitment to making the best and highest use of all materials, we collect the gas that is naturally created from the decomposition of materials in an anaerobic environment and turn that gas into electricity at our landfills. Recology continues to take steps towards voluntarily reducing our landfill GHG emissions. Through the ClimateSmart™ program, Recology voluntarily captures and destroying methane at our California landfills, further reducing our negative environmental impacts.
