Dive Brief:
- Republic Services has opened its $35 million, 110,000-square-foot Southern Nevada Recycling Center, which is expected to double the recycling capacity of the Las Vegas region. The center is capable of processing 70 tons of recyclable material per hour, or two million pounds per day.
- The facility is the biggest residential single-stream processing system in the nation, according to Terry Schneider, the CEO of CP Group which helped design and manufacture equipment for the MRF. The center is located adjacent to an 88,000-square-foot recycling facility — together, they make up the largest recycling operation in North America according to Republic.
- The MRF features dual sorting lines, allowing for increased efficiency; five optical sorters that use 2D and 3D technologies; touch screen control systems; and real-time system management and monitoring from tablet-based technologies.
Dive Insight:
The opening of Republic's new MRF marks a milestone for the company, as the facility is the most advanced MRF of its 66 recycling centers across the nation. As Republic continues to grow and expand its recycling operations, the Southern Nevada Recycling Center will exemplify how future facilities should be built.
In a statement, Republic Services' Area President Tim Oudman said: "This is a special day for people throughout Southern Nevada, especially our customers ... A recycling center of this magnitude is a bold undertaking, and reflects our community’s commitment to environmental responsibility. Southern Nevada is home to considerable natural beauty and we are truly proud to invest in its preservation."
As a company, Republic Services is expanding in many other ways. Earlier this month, it added eight CNG trucks to its Raleigh, NC fleet, adding to a national fleet of more than 2,200 CNG trucks. Additionally, the company reported increased net profits and revenue in its Q3 earnings.
