BRIDGETON, Mo. – Republic Services has announced plans to build a large-scale recycling center in Bridgeton, Missouri to serve the St. Louis region.

Republic Services anticipates that breaking ground on the site early next year and opening the facility in mid-2027.

The company expects the planned Bridgeton facility to have higher capacity and more advanced technology than current facilities in the St. Louis area. Current plans call for a 105,000-square-foot recycling center that can process up to 45 tons, or nine truckloads, of single-stream recyclables per hour.

The recycling center will handle a wide range of materials, including paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs, aluminum and metal food and beverage cans, and glass bottles and jars. Company leaders are hopeful the center will improve recycling rates around the St. Louis region and make it easier for residents and businesses to recycle more effectively.

“Our investment in this new recycling center reinforces Republic Services’ commitment to circularity, sustainability and the St. Louis community,” said Republic Services Area President Andrew Wempe via a news release. “It will meet growing demand for recycling throughout Greater St. Louis and help our customers achieve their sustainability goals.”

The facility will be designed with cutting-edge recycling technology, including at least 10 optical sorters that use digital recognition to identify and separate paper or plastic in milliseconds. It will also include screening technology to sort recycling material by size and remove unrecyclable material from the stream.

Republic Services employs nearly 1,000 people in the St. Louis area and operates 12 facilities, including hauling locations, transfer stations, recycling centers and disposal sites.