Rubicon signs deal with Atlanta to track waste and recycling figures

Rubicon Global, based in Atlanta, has begun a public-private partnership with the city of Atlanta that is expected to help the city accelerate its environmental leadership by using technology to improve its residential waste and recycling services.

Rubicon is a waste and recycling company that works with customers to find inefficiencies and cost-savings in their waste streams and to develop new and innovative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle waste.

Under the program, the city of Atlanta will use Rubicon’s cloud-based technology platform as part of an initial six-month program. The Atlanta City Council unanimously approved a resolution establishing the test program this past October.

“Rubicon is building a new model for the waste and recycling industry, realigning incentives away from landfills and in favor of more sustainable communities,” says Michael Allegretti, Rubicon director of public policy.

“Mayor (Kasim) Reed and the city of Atlanta share these goals, and we are incredibly excited to bring our technology platform to Atlanta’s residential waste systems,” adds Allegretti. “While many leaders talk about a future based on smart solutions, Mayor Reed and Rubicon are delivering a smart platform today. We are thrilled to bring real innovation to the public sector and demonstrate the benefit for our hometown taxpayers.”

"We are excited to work with Atlanta-based company Rubicon to explore new technologies for innovation in our waste management systems,” says Reed. “We have ambitious, clear goals for improving efficiency and increasing recycling rates and effectiveness. This unique partnership with Rubicon will open new opportunities and support our conservation efforts.” 

Smartphones loaded with the Rubicon hauler mobile app will be placed into the Atlanta Department of Public Works’ entire fleet of residential solid waste, recycling and yard waste trucks. The Department also will use Rubicon’s desktop vendor portal, which works with the mobile app, to create operational efficiency, improve customer service and ultimately lead to savings for taxpayers.

The partnership will also provide valuable planning data to the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, most notably by enabling real-time information on current landfill diversion and recycling rates in support of Atlanta’s zero waste efforts. The data will help the city understand how to better target its recycling education efforts, quantify the carbon avoidance from recycling activities and determine vehicle emission reduction targets in the City’s solid waste fleet through route optimization and other features.