A new contract between the City of Seattle and its recycling processor, Republic Services, is expected to save about $4.5 million over a three-year period.

The new agreement resulted from a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process that rated Republic’s proposal highest based on financial and non-financial established criteria. The new contract contains provisions that would allow the city to recycle cooking oil and additional rigid household plastics.

“This new contract not only makes recycling cheaper in Seattle, we’re expanding the kinds of materials that we recycle,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “We’ve nearly reached our goal of recycling or composting 60 percent of all of our city’s waste, which is both better for the bottom line and also supports environmental quality.”

“Well done, SPU and Republic,” said Councilmember Sally Bagshaw. “I am pleased that city ratepayers will save money on recycling services, while we continue to partner with a local competitive company committed to paying its employees a living wage.”

Republic Services' state-of-the-art recycling facility is located at the heart of Seattle's SODO neighborhood. With a skilled team of employees and equipment like optical scanners that sort material down to the molecular level, Republic processes about 85,000 tons of material annually from Seattle residents.

Learn more at: www.seattle.gov/util.