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Recology Inc., formerly known as Norcal Waste Systems, is an American
Recology promotes recycling,
Shoreway Environmental Center
a large, multi-purpose recycling center and Materials Recovery Facility that is operated by South Bayside Industries (a division of Alameda County Industries), a joint venture between Recology and Potential Industries. In early 2009, after an investigation, the company obtained a court order against various organized illegal "poachers" who were raiding curbside recycling containers to sell the contents for scrap. As of 2015, the company employed approximately 3,000 employees, with revenues of approx $800 million. The company is 100% employee-owned through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).
SF Environment
to achieve the city's diversion and sustainability goals. In 2012, San Francisco voters considered Proposition A, a ballot measure that would have put the city's waste collection to five separate competitive-bid contracts. Residents Tony Kelly and retired Judge Quentin Kopp collected enough signatures to put Proposition A on the city's
Recology San Francisco Artist in Residence Program
allows local artists, chosen by an advisory board made of arts professional, to use materials found in its materials recovery and processing facilities to create art. It was the first, and for a long period, only such program in the United States. The residency has since become highly competitive, hosting artists from the Bay Area. Among the program's alumni are Nathaniel Stookey, who composed ''Junkestra'', a
Canvas series
in 2019.{{cite web , last1=Wise , first1=Kat , title=This San Francisco art exhibit takes another look at trash , url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/this-san-francisco-art-exhibit-takes-another-look-at-trash , website=pbs.org , publisher=PBS , access-date=20 May 2019
Official websiteArtist-in-Residence Program
Companies based in San Francisco Recycling in the United States Employee-owned companies of the United States Waste management in the United States Waste management companies of the United States
Recology Inc., formerly known as Norcal Waste Systems, is an American waste management
Waste management or waste disposal includes the processes and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. This includes the collection, transport, treatment, and disposal of waste, together with monitor ...
company headquartered in San Francisco
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
, California. The company collects and processes municipal solid waste
Municipal solid waste (MSW), commonly known as trash or garbage in the American English, United States and rubbish in British English, Britain, is a List of waste types, waste type consisting of everyday items that are discarded by the public. ...
, reclaiming reusable materials. The company also operates transfer stations, materials recovery facilities (MRFs), a number of landfills, and continues to spearhead renewable energy projects. Recology is the largest organics compost facility operator by volume in the United States.
Recology Inc. is the parent to approximately 40 operating companies, including Recology San Francisco, Recology King County (Seattle
Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...
), and Recology Portland.
Description
Recology promotes recycling, composting
Compost is a mixture of ingredients used as plant fertilizer and to improve soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties. It is commonly prepared by Decomposition, decomposing plant and food waste, recycling organic materials, and man ...
, and other waste-reduction programs to minimize the amount of materials sent to landfills.
Just south of San Francisco, Recology brings solid and residential waste from Recology San Mateo County to thShoreway Environmental Center
a large, multi-purpose recycling center and Materials Recovery Facility that is operated by South Bayside Industries (a division of Alameda County Industries), a joint venture between Recology and Potential Industries. In early 2009, after an investigation, the company obtained a court order against various organized illegal "poachers" who were raiding curbside recycling containers to sell the contents for scrap. As of 2015, the company employed approximately 3,000 employees, with revenues of approx $800 million. The company is 100% employee-owned through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).
History
The company has a long history in the Bay Area, and holds a no-bid contract for garbage collection in San Francisco. In 1932, the city granted a permanent concession to the city's 97 independent garbage collectors; shortly thereafter those 97 independents banded together to form the company that would become Norcal Waste Systems. Since that time, the company has held a permanent no-bid, no-franchise-fee contract to collect the city's garbage and recyclables. The company works closely witSF Environment
to achieve the city's diversion and sustainability goals. In 2012, San Francisco voters considered Proposition A, a ballot measure that would have put the city's waste collection to five separate competitive-bid contracts. Residents Tony Kelly and retired Judge Quentin Kopp collected enough signatures to put Proposition A on the city's
ballot
A ballot is a device used to cast votes in an election and may be found as a piece of paper or a small ball used in voting. It was originally a small ball (see blackballing) used to record decisions made by voters in Italy around the 16th cent ...
. Prop A was overwhelmingly voted down, with 77% of the vote going for the continuation of Recology's services.
In 2021, subsidiaries of Recology operating in San Francisco were assessed $36 million in criminal penalties following a corruption scandal involving bribery and fraud.
Artist in Residence Program
Founded in 1990 by Recology and environmental artist Jo Hanson, thRecology San Francisco Artist in Residence Program
allows local artists, chosen by an advisory board made of arts professional, to use materials found in its materials recovery and processing facilities to create art. It was the first, and for a long period, only such program in the United States. The residency has since become highly competitive, hosting artists from the Bay Area. Among the program's alumni are Nathaniel Stookey, who composed ''Junkestra'', a
classical music
Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...
composition for thirty instruments made out of the company's refuse, Terry Berlier, who now sits on the board of the program, muralist Sirron Norris, and filmmaker Nomi Talisman. The PBS NewsHour highlighted the AIR Program in theiCanvas series
in 2019.{{cite web , last1=Wise , first1=Kat , title=This San Francisco art exhibit takes another look at trash , url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/this-san-francisco-art-exhibit-takes-another-look-at-trash , website=pbs.org , publisher=PBS , access-date=20 May 2019
See also
* Recycling in the United States * Resource recoveryReferences
External links
Official website
Companies based in San Francisco Recycling in the United States Employee-owned companies of the United States Waste management in the United States Waste management companies of the United States