WM plans to invest $56 million to advance recycling technology at three materials recovery facilities (MRFs) serving communities across Washington state as well as North Idaho.
These projects are part of WM's plans to invest $800 million in recycling infrastructure through 2025, including automating existing facilities and developing new facilities. With the demand for recycled content products expected to rise, the investment will enable WM to capture more recycled materials and increase access to recycling for its customers.
"Sustainability is WM's core business," says WM Pacific Northwest Area Vice President Jason Rose. "This investment confirms WM's longstanding commitment to helping Washington communities and businesses achieve bold sustainability goals."
WM's $56 million planned and completed investment in Washington state will rebuild one MRF and upgrade two MRFs. The technology will reduce contamination and enable more recyclables to be processed to meet stringent quality standards, so manufacturers can make them into new products. The investment will also result in greater efficiency through technology and automation.
WM Cascade Recycling Center located in Woodinville, Washington
WM's Cascade Recycling Center processes recyclables collected from communities and businesses across Western Washington. WM plans to rebuild the facility with a new design that is anticipated to include advanced optical sorting, ballistic separators, volumetric scanners, and other technologies. The rebuilt facility is expected to increase overall recycling capacity and the capture rate for the most environmentally significant materials - aluminum cans, paper and cardboard, and plastic bottles. The $34 million rebuild is expected to start at the end of November and is expected to be complete in the summer of 2023.
WM Spokane Materials and Recycling Technology (SMaRT) Center located in Spokane, Washington
The WM SMaRT Center processes recyclables collected from communities and businesses in Eastern and Central Washington and North Idaho. Upgrades totaling $15 million are planned to commence in 2023 and are expected to be completed by early 2024.
WM JMK Fibers located in Tacoma, Washington
WM's JMK Fibers processes recyclables collected from King County, Kitsap County, Pierce County, and several northwest states. WM recently completed a $7 million upgrade in September, following a significant investment in 2019 to install additional paper screens, optical sorters, and a second plastic sorter.
