Recology

Recology is an employee-owned waste management company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It provides collection and processing services for municipal solid waste, recyclables, and compostable materials across the western United States.

Recology distinguishes itself through its commitment to resource recovery and sustainable practices. The company advocates for zero waste and invests heavily in infrastructure designed to divert materials from landfills. This includes advanced recycling facilities that sort commingled recyclables and compost facilities that process organic waste into usable compost.

A key aspect of Recology's operations is its dual-stream recycling system, where residents and businesses separate recyclable materials into different bins – one for paper and cardboard, and another for bottles, cans, and plastics. This approach, while requiring greater effort from the user, generally yields higher-quality recyclables compared to single-stream systems.

Recology traces its origins back to the early 20th century when scavengers and garbage collectors formed cooperative associations in San Francisco. Over time, these organizations evolved and merged, eventually becoming the modern-day Recology. The company's unique employee-ownership structure contributes to its focus on long-term sustainability and community engagement.

Recology provides services to residential, commercial, and municipal customers. In addition to collection and processing, the company offers educational programs and consulting services to promote waste reduction and recycling best practices. Recology's operations are subject to various environmental regulations and oversight from local and state agencies.