The recycling business model is "broken" according to the CEO of waste management company Republic Services, but the company is still beating the market thanks to its trash business. Jane Wells reports on how consumers are contaminating recycling and causing issues for the industry.
For years, the United States sold materials for China to be recycled, but with changes to environmental standards required for purchased materials (the "China Sword") recycling programs stateside are in transition. Republic Services' Marek Crabbs and Alberto Guardado spoke with Jill Buck for Go Green Radio about "Recycling Simplified," a program designed to help customers understand what these new regulations mean for curbside recycling and where we go from here.
Renewable Natural Gas Facility Begins Operations at Southeast Oklahoma Landfill
Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., September 24, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Republic Services and energy partners Aria Energy and BP celebrated the commissioning of a landfill gas to renewable natural gas (RNG) project located at the Southeast Oklahoma Landfill, outside of Oklahoma City.
Most people know Republic Services for the big blue trucks that collect trash throughout their neighborhood. But we don’t just deliver garbage to the local landfill, we also work to keep some things out – such as perfectly edible food.
Supermarkets and restaurants often are left with food that’s beyond the “sell by” date but is still safe for consumption. At the same time, hunger is at epidemic proportions in the U.S., affecting one in six Americans.
So our team got to thinking . . . how could we help get that extra food to those in need?
Republic is a leading provider and trusted partner in the energy and environmental services industry. We deliver a variety of solutions for our manufacturing, industrial and energy customers — from field services at the point of drilling to the refinery and industrial services within the plants. Our advanced technologies and integrated solutions are meeting our customer’s evolving needs while enabling them to reduce their environmental footprint.
Environmentally conscientious communities across the country are seeking our help with sustainable solutions for their organics, which includes food and yard waste. The good news is that organics are highly biodegradable and can be recycled at our compost facilities — benefiting our planet and business.
Being a steward of our Blue Planet requires responsible landfill management. To us, that involves more than capturing landfill gas — a byproduct of waste decomposition in landfills. It means prioritizing renewable energy opportunities whenever possible, from harnessing landfill gas at active landfills to capturing the power of the sun, and converting previously unused resources into power for homes, businesses, critical infrastructure, and our collection vehicles.
In households across America, questions like these are heard several times a day: “Is this recyclable?” “It’s okay to put my recyclables in a bag, right?” “Do I need to do anything to this pizza box before I recycle it?”
Community asset isn’t a phrase normally associated with landfills, but Republic is proving just how important they can be to the community. The redevelopment of a major commercial area would have likely been in jeopardy without our regional landfill. We used our resources and technology to provide safe and responsible disposal options for special waste that once contaminated the development area – demonstrating how important landfills are for local development and community growth.
