Republic Opens ‘World’s Largest Recycling Plant’

Republic Services Inc. opened what it says is the largest recycling operation in the world, a 110-ton per hour, multiple waste stream facility in Milpitas, Calif.

The material recovery facility (MRF) will process residential and commercial single-stream material for recycling, as well dry and wet commercial recyclables, comprising all the commercial waste from businesses in San Jose, Calif., the Phoenix-based Republic said in a news release. The MRF will process more than 400,000 tons per year and is expected to divert at least 80 percent of the material collected.

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The MRF is located at the 342-acre Newby Island Resource Recovery Park and includes a landfill (with gas recovery), a composting facility, recyclery and the local hauling company.  Republic said it will provide standard recycling services for all area customers and includes organics recycling that generates energy from waste. The hauling company operates nearly 70 natural gas vehicles, and the site includes a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station. The operation employs 289.

“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,” said Gil Cheso, division manager for Republic. “We are proud that in partnership with our service cities, we have met or exceeded California’s waste diversion requirements. This greatly enhances our overall positive environmental impact.”

Republic worked with Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) to design, manufacture and install the custom-designed, automated system.