Serving Lincoln, Rocklin, Roseville and the unincorporated portions of western Placer County, the Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA) owns and operates a state-of-the-art mixed-waste sorting facility, alongside composting and landfill operations. In addition to managing recycling and disposal, the regional government agency promotes environmental sustainability through innovation.
The WPWMA’s new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), fully operational as of July 1, utilizes advanced technologies, including robotics and artificial intelligence, to sort and recover 60% of all materials thrown away in Placer County and more than 75% of organic waste — all without requiring residents and businesses to separate these materials themselves.
“As new markets develop for recycled materials, the WPWMA’s innovative MRF allows for flexibility, in addition to increasing the amount of recyclables recovered, accommodating anticipated regional growth, and achieving compliance with solid waste regulations.” — Emily Hoffman, Public Information Officer
“This facility will enable us to meet California’s Senate Bill 1383 mandate, which aims to reduce organic waste disposal by 75% by 2025,” says Emily Hoffman, WPWMA public information officer. “It not only supports state regulations, but is also one of the largest facilities of its kind in North America, processing up to 110 tons of mixed-waste material per hour.”
The new MRF utilizes technologies including robotics, optical sorters and other artificial intelligence equipment capable of accurately sorting more than 200 recyclables per minute — far outperforming the original MRF, which relied heavily on manual sorting to maximize diversion of recyclable materials. Manual sorting in the MRF is now limited to final quality control.
A historically unique facility across California and North America, the WPWMA takes another big step ahead of the pack with the new MRF. The facility will benefit the community through maximized recycling efficiency, increased landfill diversion, and reduced environmental impacts, and by fostering a culture of sustainability.
“This kind of high-diversion Materials Recovery Facility is vital to our region’s future. In addition to boasting 100% community participation in our regional recycling program through the mixed-waste collection and processing system, it also future-proofs recycling as a long-term solution,” says Hoffman. “As new markets develop for recycled materials, the WPWMA’s innovative MRF allows for flexibility, in addition to increasing the amount of recyclables recovered, accommodating anticipated regional growth, and achieving compliance with solid waste regulations.”
