WM Enhances Philadelphia Recycling with $40M AI Technology to Process 192,000 Tons of Waste Annually

WM's $40 million automation upgrade in Philadelphia doubles down on AI-powered sorting, pushing processing speeds to 45 tons per hour of recyclables.

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[{"selector":"#anim-480d5647-6873-4787-a5ac-4fcfa7a34a8c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cfe9ea9b-fae2-4f52-9310-9a8e128957d1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.92356%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d2d73bc-fbd4-478d-a76a-bb87b0b5a020","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-41ba5d63-0274-47f5-909a-5519e7f3764f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 317.09388%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-129d7f81-f2d5-4e45-a6f6-dd1abb5b4e9f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.22222%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf5f46c2-a790-4687-be31-f75d0e69f5c1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e461d834-e9ad-43d9-99f1-0c807fa9979f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] The Philadelphia plant's annual processing capacity jumps from 120,000 to 192,000 tons after strategic automation improvements. Arrow Photo Source: Michael Stokes ( CC BY 2.0)

The Philadelphia plant's annual processing capacity jumps from 120,000 to 192,000 tons after strategic automation improvements.

[{"selector":"#anim-db8fbb99-e50a-430f-98e8-f5e984476901","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a6e824a-1d9e-4266-8117-5b3767f8fcf0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3952920b-a4b3-4f03-9c25-8faddf083508","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e203fdf-3624-4efb-a989-b1cbca61fbed","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8d252de-cccc-4451-b334-112bf8f84542","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90982699-8422-4e40-b527-2dc8c914ef17","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow Photo Source: Michael L. Dorn (CC BY-SA 2.0) Photo Source: Michael L. Dorn (CC BY-SA 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-1ae2ab36-51e0-4b92-bffa-c5b9a2e09598","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.22222%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1e5cf64f-2eef-4616-bca6-22c1733d3742","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-443dda07-5ebd-4297-b78d-750e38c6e44e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07cb5e54-2b22-49c3-b7de-4bd47bbe4a72","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d813d9e0-8da9-4227-b36f-e8dabffc6407","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.92356%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-979969cb-eb70-4654-9a0e-885f96ce4a4a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eedf0408-d022-4ac2-abf8-884044d6ff27","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 317.09388%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Chris Farley, WM's Greater Mid-Atlantic VP, confirms the facility converts recyclables into manufacturer-ready commodities. Arrow Photo Source: Jim Reynolds ( CC BY 2.0)

Where does the Philadelphia upgrade fit into WM's ambitious $1.4 billion North American investment strategy?

[{"selector":"#anim-7d1dadfc-38c7-4ba6-b44a-376572ae4602","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b89a0676-e121-4e3c-bb4c-abb315468647","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af5f7d1d-7e74-4553-8c91-7ae26cf378ab","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86410f71-790a-43e6-b063-ecafa1cb5bf8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07b7fce0-a396-467e-9abb-7ed38c065e9b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a95774a1-23f4-48ec-b85a-dbd665333cc6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow Photo Source: Mefman00 ( CC0 1.0) Photo Source: Mefman00 ( CC0 1.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-d6619ae3-3932-4134-93f4-b24003b85bcc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.22222%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01262e50-5048-422a-a27b-b34173ba418a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-80e4cc18-7282-4a26-b233-6abaad10d8f3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-864625ad-2180-4cb6-accd-0778484e0c1c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a5ebc3e-bd65-43ff-b76b-de14c0728d42","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.92356%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b350e16-bafb-4248-9915-fbc316280273","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64ed9cc0-01b7-44cd-9e0c-d3656d17b57c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 317.09388%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Pennsylvania receives over $100 million in recycling infrastructure, with major projects spanning Pittsburgh and Northampton County. Arrow Photo Source: Popscreenshot ( CC BY-SA 4.0)

The modernized facility processes everything from residential bottles to commercial paper, but what happens after materials enter the plant?

[{"selector":"#anim-db884693-72bd-4b02-8e7d-6da921371912","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a274571-a4dd-4459-9766-b0a5a3593805","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-136140b6-3fe1-4871-9e40-6ed33f472742","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-913e2509-8676-4e21-add9-cfa41c3cd7e8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42b6bda9-828c-4828-ad19-1241687158f1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7265ca29-6456-4e52-923d-cbaddaeef2b1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow Photo Source: Steven (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Photo Source: Steven (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-d9725ca7-695a-4e05-ae11-f2b4ceb25330","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.22222%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1e6c14f-543d-4a58-8cca-fe890548be5f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-76dc9819-96e8-4645-b500-d435911130f2","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a21f50d4-1e8f-4ad0-9ee9-fde80bcbdfe8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ad4ce802-56a4-4ddf-94a9-8b7e489342d2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.92356%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d412015-1984-4a9c-a20b-cc8a414f9ab6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1495d2c4-e3a2-425b-9ede-b7a73b141076","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 317.09388%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Mayor Cherelle Parker emphasizes public-private partnerships as crucial drivers for Philadelphia's environmental initiatives. Arrow Photo Source: Philadelphia City Council ( CC BY-NC 2.0)

WM's recycling expansion continues across states, with a 45,000-square-foot facility recently established in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

[{"selector":"#anim-9df96c14-3648-41db-8a5a-66ff973aa989","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c374573-269e-4171-bfd2-29a918547ef7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ce4a107-5513-4f7d-8a47-e87396793b96","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e48632f9-fa34-4853-97d4-5e01c9c339ff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e87939d-8a4b-402f-a8fd-7fe88a964a5f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-052a6749-887e-4b52-baa1-21303e784f50","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow Photo Source: Innisfree Hotels (CC BY-NC 2.0) Photo Source: Innisfree Hotels (CC BY-NC 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-1bcdd84a-e96a-4313-a8b3-fa005aea6339","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18822c8c-b9f9-4fa9-aedc-dad996709d49","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d740f140-90ff-439b-b584-9549080de7a6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":350,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d671bcc-7f84-4766-b0c1-e90db26adb36","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":350,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa934177-fa3f-4c4a-90d6-3563b211259a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ebe9c9a-c6e0-4d36-adec-b9c13d0dcde6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -200.40406%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Plastic Waste Crisis: INC-5 Tackles 400 Million Tonnes of Annual Production and 4,200 Toxic Chemicals Learn more