AI-Powered Recycling Centers

Republic Services is developing an AI-powered recycling center in Bridgeton, Missouri, designed to recover more reusable materials through automated sorting technology. The facility will combine artificial intelligence with optical sorters, which identify and separate recyclable materials, helping improve processing efficiency and limit the amount of recoverable waste entering landfills.

Scheduled to open in 2028, the 105,000-square-foot St. Louis Recycling Center will handle up to 45 tons of recyclables per hour. The facility will serve approximately 3 million residents and businesses throughout Greater St. Louis, expanding access to material recovery services.

The project could strengthen regional recycling infrastructure while creating new employment opportunities. Construction is expected to generate up to 200 jobs, followed by approximately 60 permanent positions. For Republic Services, the investment expands processing capacity and supports greater material recovery for manufacturers seeking recycled inputs for new products.