Republic Services to construct recycling center in Missouri

Republic Services Inc. has announced plans to construct a recycling center in Bridgeton, Missouri, to serve the Greater St. Louis region.

Republic Services, based in Phoenix, estimates the 105,000-square-foot recycling center will manage recyclables from approximately 3 million people throughout Greater St. Louis and surrounding communities. The facility will reportedly process up to 45 tons of single-stream recyclables per hour, including paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs, aluminum and metal food and beverage cans and glass bottles and jars.

“Our investment in this new recycling center reinforces Republic Services’ commitment to circularity, sustainability and the St. Louis community,” Republic Services Area President Andrew Wempe says. “It will meet growing demand for recycling throughout Greater St. Louis and help our customers achieve their sustainability goals.”

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The facility will feature a minimum of 10 optical sorters that use digital recognition to identify and separate paper and plastic; screening technology to sort recyclable material by size and remove nonrecyclables from the stream; and artificial intelligence (AI) to help reduce contamination. Republic Services says AI system data also will enable real-time adjustments to maximize the volume of materials recycled.

Contingent on the permitting process, construction is set to commence in the first quarter of 2026, and the project is expected to create up to 200 full-time construction jobs, with 60 full-time employees working at the facility once completed. The recycling center is set to open mid-2027.