More recycling capacity and landfill gas-to-energy are among the company’s near-term priorities.
Republic Services Inc. has released its 2014 Sustainability Report, which introduces the company’s sustainability plan—referring to the preservation of a Blue Planet—and its five pillars of sustainability: safety, operations, materials management, communities and people.
Republic describes Blue Planet as the company’s “commitment to protecting the Earth.” In the news release accompanying its 2014 Sustainability Report, Republic says Blue Planet “defines the company’s approach to environmental responsibility through decreased vehicle emissions, innovative landfill technologies, use of renewable energy, community engagement and employee growth opportunities.”
As part of the report, Phoenix-based Republic also introduced specific goals that focus on three areas to drive emissions reductions: recycled commodities, renewable energy and fleet operations.
By 2018, the company says it plans to:
- add 150,000 tons per year or more of recycling capacity to enable growth of recycling within the communities it serves;
- develop at least two landfill gas and renewable energy projects per year, resulting in roughly 20,000 tons per year of avoided carbon dioxide; and
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the company’s collection vehicles by 3 percent.
“Because we are striving to be America’s preferred recycling and solid waste partner, we evaluated our internal operations to better understand our environmental impact, how to provide effortless solutions to our customers that empower them to do the right thing, and ultimately, ways to make our planet safer and better for everyone,” says Don Slager, president and CEO of Republic Services.
Other priorities mentioned in the report include:
- managing materials recovery in a responsible manner: the company collected nearly 5 million tons of recyclable materials in 2014 and says it continues to make investments in recycling infrastructure;
- providing renewable energy resources: through the capture and use of methane and the offset of fossil fuels, the use of landfill gas provides the economy and environment with significant benefits, says Republic;
- placing a priority on safety: Republic says it is investing in programs and practices that make safety the foundation for protecting its employees and communities. Currently, the company’s safety performance—based on the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s recordable rates—is 42 percent better than the industry average; and
- reducing the impact of fleet operations: to date, the company has converted 2,200 trucks to compressed natural gas and has 36 fueling stations nationwide.