Republic Services to open 45-tph recycling facility in St. Louis
The 105,000-square-foot facility will manage a wide range of recyclables from roughly 3 million people
Republic Services, Inc. plans to construct a new recycling centre in Bridgeton, Mo., to serve the greater St. Louis area. Republic Services expects the facility to open in mid-2027 and have a higher capacity with more advanced technology than current facilities in the area.
The 105,000-square-foot recycling centre is estimated to manage recyclables from approximately 3 million people throughout the greater St. Louis and surrounding communities. The high-capacity facility will process up to 45 tons, or nine truckloads, 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.
The new facility will use the latest in digital sorting technology
The facility will be designed with the latest recycling technology, including a minimum of 10 optical sorters that use digital recognition to identify and separate paper or plastic in milliseconds, screening technology to sort recycling material by size and remove unrecyclable material from the stream, and artificial intelligence (AI) to help reduce contamination. AI system data will also enable real-time adjustments to maximize the volume of materials recycled.
Groundbreaking, contingent on the permitting process, is anticipated to occur in the first quarter of 2026. The project is expected to create up to 200 full-time construction jobs, and 60 full-time employees will work at the facility once completed.
Republic Services has a large presence in the St. Louis area. The company employs nearly 1,000 people in the area and operates 12 facilities, including hauling locations, transfer stations, recycling centres, and disposal sites.
"Our investment in this new recycling center reinforces Republic Services' commitment to circularity, sustainability, and the St. Louis community," said Republic Services area president Andrew Wempe. "It will meet growing demand for recycling throughout Greater St. Louis and help our customers achieve their sustainability goals."
