Dive Brief:
- Republic Services has released its 2015 Sustainability Report, which highlights environmental benefits from the company's fleet of 2,500 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles and the collection of more than 5 million tons of material processed at 67 recycling centers.
- Safety was also a key focus. The company reported that its safety record is 42% better than the industry average based on data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
- Republic has set four sustainability goals for 2018: Adding 150,000 tons per year of recycling capacity, developing at least two landfill gas-to-energy projects per year, reducing fleet emissions from direct operational factors by 3% and reducing OSHA rates by 7% year-over-year.
Dive Insight:
Through its Blue Planet initiative the company has been focused on new ways to make its operations in 39 states and Puerto Rico more sustainable. According the report, Republic collected 100 million tons of waste from approximately 14 million customers last year. The company continues to expand its use of alternative fuel for these collections, with 16% of the fleet now running on CNG.
The material that wasn't recycled went to one of company's 193 active landfills. Republic currently has 69 gas-to-energy projects — including a new one in Georgia — that reportedly generate enough power for 250,000 homes. In addition to capturing energy these projects also capture odors, which are currently part of an ongoing public debate in California.
This sustainability work has also earned the company some accolades in recent years. Republic ranked in the top 10% for the Climate Disclosure Project's 2015 S&P 500 Climate Change Report and was 45th on the recent "Clean 200" list of companies that profit from alternative energy. As the industry adapts, many companies can take note of Republic's sustainability initiatives and work to emulate such efforts.
