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Recology Sonoma Marin details $35 million MRF upgrade, reuse events and recycling metrics
Summary
Recology told the Santa Rosa City Council it invested $35 million in a new materials recovery facility that processes about 300 tons a day, has an estimated 85% recovery rate, and is piloting electric trucks while expanding community reuse events and education programs.
Recology Sonoma Marin presented its 2025 update to the Santa Rosa City Council and highlighted a $35 million rebuild of its materials recovery facility (MRF), community outreach programs and efforts to reduce what goes to landfill.
Recology Senior General Manager Logan Harvey said the rebuilt MRF processes more than 300 tons of material a day and achieves about an 85% recovery rate for materials that enter the facility. The company said the investment was intended to keep material in-county for processing rather than shipping to distant facilities and to create local jobs; Recology described itself as 100% employee-owned and noted many employees participate in Teamsters Local 665.
Operational changes Recology reported include reduced customer service call wait times (from 5–10 minutes historically to about 1 minute 20 seconds on average), a new multi-week driver training program designed to improve retention and safety, and the recent testing of an electric collection truck in Sonoma County. The utility said it is short only about three driver positions as it expands recruitment.
Compliance and diversion: Recology said municipal recycling and composting rules are enforced by state law and reported the city’s compliance levels cited in the presentation: about 98% compliance with SB 1383 (organic waste/compost requirements) and 100% compliance with AB 341 (commercial recycling). The company also noted SB 54, the extended-producer-responsibility law, is changing market dynamics for recyclable materials.
Community programs: Celia Ferber, Recology community relations manager, described several outreach efforts: MRF tours (more than 1,200 visitors), Recology Village at the Wednesday Night Market, an education exhibit planned with the Children’s Museum, and a TRASH art program that used removed nonrecyclable items to make student art. Recology also held a Reuse Bazaar on Sept. 27 that served about 750 people and diverted roughly 34,000 pounds (17 tons) of usable items from landfill; 68 employee-owners volunteered at the event.
Council questions covered street sweeping logistics, how residents can check materials that are recyclable, and the city’s rules for leaving carts at the curb. Recology advised residents to use the company website’s lookup tool for recycling questions and to place batteries and other high-fire-risk items on top of the recycle cart in a sealed bag for collection (Recology said loose batteries are their number one safety concern). Councilmembers requested more signage and public notices about street-sweeper dates and bike-lane sweepers.
No formal council action was required for the presentation. Recology said it will publish tours and community-event information and follow up with the city on rates and equipment proposals.
