Republic Services Opens Newby Island Resource Recovery Park

Phoenix-based Republic Services Inc. celebrated the grand opening of its Newby Island Resource Recovery Park, which the company claims houses the world’s largest material recovery facility (MRF). The 110 ton-per-hour multi-stream system , which was designed, manufactured and installed by Eugene, Ore.-based Bulk Handling Systems (BHS), is the first and largest of its kind. The facility processes all commercial waste generated in San José, Calif., recovering more than 80 percent for recycling.

Until now, San José’s commercial waste was managed by 20 different haulers and provided less than half of the city’s businesses with recycling services. The program initiated by Republic Services provides standard recycling for all businesses. The company has a 15-year commercial waste contract with the city.

In addition to serving more than 8,000 San José businesses, the system also processes recyclables from 85,000 households and has the capacity to process 420,000 tons of material per year. Clearly defining and targeting each stream is key to meeting lofty recovery goals, according to BHS.

“In San José we are dealing with four distinct streams: organics, commercial dry waste, commercial single-stream and residential single-stream,” says Rich Reardon, BHS’ director of sales and marketing. “Reaching a level of 80 percent meant recovering commodities that have traditionally been discarded. Breaking down the material stream and supplying processes to address each fraction ensures recovery optimization. Designing the entire process around this principle allowed us to help Republic Services meet its goal,” he adds.

During the grand opening, San José Mayor Chuck Reed addressed the MRF’s impact on the city’s goals. “Our businesses and community will benefit from this new approach to commercial waste recycling,” Reed said. “The new service will include the recycling of organic waste, which will help businesses and the city alike achieve their sustainability goals. The investment in advanced waste processing facilities generates new green jobs, turns waste into energy and demonstrates San José’s innovative leadership toward a sustainable future.”

“This advanced facility is ahead of the curve. It’s the first of its kind and is a fantastic example of how the scope of our industry is expanding to recover materials from a wide variety of waste streams,” said BHS CEO Steve Miller.

Mark Buntjer, general manager at Republic Services, added, “Republic is pleased to be working with BHS on this extraordinary project. This facility is the first and largest of its kind and we’re excited to be at the forefront of the industry, setting the pace globally for multi-material recovery.”