Recology: Pushing Progress in Waste Innovation

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): Recology releases their 2025 Sustainability Update, marking another year of progress in building a more sustainable and circular future.  For over a century, Recology has pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in waste and recycling. Today, they are not just collecting materials – they are reshaping systems, deepening community partnerships, and creating real momentum toward a more sustainable, circular economy.

This year, they are celebrating major milestones including:

•          1.5 million tons of recyclable and compostable materials processed
•          45% more materials recovered than discarded in Recology landfills, by weight
•          1.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions avoided through composting and recycling—over 10 times the total emissions produced through operations
•          A major expansion of our Aumsville composting facility, now able to accept an additional 25,000 tons of organics annually

These milestones underscore their ongoing efforts to drive progress toward a circular economy – a system focused on reducing waste by keeping materials in use through recycling and composting. Looking ahead, we have also reaffirmed our ambitious 2028 sustainability targets:

•          Power Recology facilities with 100% renewable or carbon-free electricity
•          Use 95% renewable or alternative fuels to power Recology vehicles and equipment
•          Use 75% of collected landfill-gas to generate renewable energy

In 2024, they powered facilities with 93% renewable or carbon-free electricity, powered vehicles and equipment with 91% renewable or alternative fuels, and made progress on projects at their Ostrom and Hay Road landfills to increase renewable energy generation. Recology’s progress reflects the dedication of the employee-owners and the strength of the partnerships they have with customers and communities.

Said Salvatore Coniglio, Recology’s Chief Executive Officer, “For over a century, Recology has pioneered sustainability within our communities—from our immigrant founders scavenging the streets of San Francisco for recyclables, to our company launching the nation’s first curbside organics collection program with our innovative three-bin system, to our company becoming an industry leader in renewable and alternative fuel use across our extensive fleet. Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Recology will continue pushing the boundaries of sustainable resource recovery. Above all, we remain deeply committed to creating shared value for our communities, strengthening partnerships, and bringing more people along on the journey toward a world we can all aspire to call home.”

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantagemag.com