Republic Services opens Arizona recycling center

Republic Services Inc., Phoenix, has opened the Salt River Recycling Center. The company says the new facility will play a “vital” role in helping improve recycling rates in the Phoenix metropolitan area, also known as the Valley.

The 51,000-square-foot recycling center, located in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, will manage recyclables from approximately 1.4 million residents and more than 2,000 businesses throughout the Valley. The facility will process up to 40 tons of recyclables per hour, including paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs, metal food and beverage cans and glass bottles and jars.

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"The new Salt River Recycling Center reinforces Republic Services' commitment to circularity, sustainability and the community," Republic Services Area President Javara Perrilliat says. "This facility will help meet growing demand for recycling throughout the Valley and help our customers achieve their sustainability goals."

The facility leverages various recycling technologies, including five optical sorters, which use digital recognition to identify and separate paper or plastic, and artificial intelligence (AI) to help reduce contamination. AI system data enables operators to make real-time adjustments to maximize the volume of materials recycled, Republic says.

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Plastics from the Salt River Recycling Center will be transported to Republic's new Polymer Center in Las Vegas, which the company says is the first facility of its kind in North America. The Polymer Center's processes will grind, sort and wash the plastics so they can be used in new bottles, jugs and containers. 

Republic Services processes 5 million tons of recyclables annually through 75 facilities across the U.S.