SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): WM has officially opened a newly upgraded $20 million recycling facility in Orange, designed to significantly boost recycling capacity and improve material recovery through advanced automation and artificial intelligence technologies.
The Orange Recycling Facility is expected to process up to 130,000 tons of recyclable materials annually. The plant features modern optical sorting equipment equipped with near-infrared (NIR) and high-speed sensors, allowing more efficient separation of materials and improved recovery quality. The technology also enables the facility to sort additional types of recyclables, including polypropylene plastics such as yogurt containers that were previously difficult to process.
According to Mike Hammer, area vice president of WM Southern California, the investment is part of the company’s broader $3 billion sustainability commitment. Nearly $500 million of this investment is dedicated to projects across Southern California, including automation upgrades at recycling facilities and renewable energy initiatives.
The advanced system is expected to reduce contamination, improve the quality of recovered materials, and produce higher-grade recycled feedstock used to manufacture products such as bottles, packaging boxes, apparel, and consumer goods.
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