Karmactive Staff
In a move that reflects the growing demands of urban waste management, WM has completed a $40 million automation upgrade at its Philadelphia Recycling Facility. The modernized facility, located at 5109 Bleigh Ave., increases its annual processing capacity from 120,000 to 192,000 tons of recyclable materials.
Technical Upgrades and Capacity Enhancement
The 57,860-square-foot facility now processes up to 45 tons per hour of recyclable materials from Philadelphia, Delaware and Bucks counties, and South Jersey. The automation project introduces AI-supported sorting technologies that enable communication between conveyors and optical sorters. An additional optical sorting line serves as the final quality control measure for materials that escape initial capture.
“This plant has the potential to process up to 192,000 tons of material a year and produce commodities that manufacturers can use to create new products,” said Chris Farley, WM Greater Mid-Atlantic Area Vice President, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Investment Strategy and Regional Impact
The Philadelphia facility upgrade is part of WM’s $1.4 billion investment plan for recycling facilities across North America from 2022 to 2026. In Pennsylvania alone, WM has allocated over $100 million, including upgrades to its Pittsburgh plant and construction of a new facility in Northampton County.
Brent Bell, WM’s vice president of recycling, confirmed that these investments aim to increase the company’s recycling capacity by 2.8 million tons annually, responding to rising demand for recycled content in products.
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Municipal Partnership and Environmental Goals
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker addressed the partnership aspects during the ceremony: “I’m so happy that we have great partners to work with. I need partners… I can’t get it done alone.” The mayor’s statement aligns with the city’s environmental initiatives.
Operational Capabilities
The facility processes:
- Recyclable bottles
- Jars
- Cans
- Paper from residential and commercial sources
Farley addressed common public concerns about recycling effectiveness: “Does it really get recycled? If you do it right, it does. This plant allows us to take more material and produce better commodities.”
Industry Context
Recent WM developments include:
- Opening of a 45,000-square-foot recycling facility in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
