Recology, Others Support California Recycling Investment

Recology Inc. and other business and environmental leaders endorsed California Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to invest $30 million of cap-and-trade proceeds in recycling, composting, recycled-content manufacturing and organic waste to energy projects.

Diverting materials from landfills, while expanding domestic end-uses for the recovered materials, will help achieve multiple state policy objectives, according to the Sacramento-based Californians Against Waste, in a news release.

“These funds will help create the right economic environment for construction of vital anaerobic digestion and composting infrastructure that is necessary to achieve the state’s 75 percent recycling goal,” said Mike Sangiacomo, Recology president and CEO. “Additionally, the development of anaerobic digestion will help create green jobs, as well as new mechanical and technological expertise in our industry.”

Said Mark Murray, executive director of the environmental group Californians Against Waste, “To meet our climate goals, we need to take the millions of tons of stuff we continue to throw away and return it to the economy as manufacturing inputs and sources of clean energy and sustainable agriculture. This investment is a down payment on the infrastructure that will be necessary to make that transition.”