WM Philadelphia Recycling Facility

From 2022 through 2026, WM plans to invest more than $1.4 billion to build new and update existing recycling facilities with state-of-the-art technology to increase the amount of materials that can be recycled and reused in other packaging and products.

$40 Million Toward Your Community

WM has invested approximately $40M to help drive circularity by investing in this state-of-the-art single stream recycling facility in Philadelphia. It is one of three facilities of its kind in the State of Pennsylvania.

This facility features optical sorting scanners for both fibers and plastic that work to optimize the recovery and quality of recycled materials. Additionally, the operation includes system upgrades to support glass recovery and clean-up, as well as an advanced fire detection system designed to detect fires before they spread. The WM Philadelphia Recycling Facility is capable of processing 144K tons a year of material, potentially giving materials a second life, and providing greater opportunity for local solutions for single stream recycling.

With our best-in-class capabilities in recycling, organics and renewable energy, we are poised to partner with customers to help them achieve their sustainability goals, today and into the future.

To learn more about our environmental efforts, visit our Sustainability Report.

Who We Are

WM is North America’s leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions — with the largest disposal network and collection fleet in North America.

We provide collection, recycling and disposal services to millions of residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Driven By Commitment, Guided By Values

The WM Philadelphia Recycling Facility employs more than forty team members from the Philadelphia area.

For the team, success is measured by more than just processing volume. They are dedicated to becoming a premium provider of recovered materials for our clients, while providing a first-class experience and growth opportunities for our employees.

Ultimately, the team’s greatest sense of fulfillment comes from knowing their work has a direct, positive environmental impact, turning discarded materials into valuable resources.

What is Single Stream Recycling?

Mixed recyclables are collected curbside or at businesses or stores by a truck.

Trucks travel to a WM Recycling Facility, where recyclables are unloaded onto a receiving floor.

Material is inspected, and stored until its ready to be transferred to a conveyor.

Sorting equipment separates cans, containers, glass and bottles from paper. An eddy current and magnets work to sort aluminum and tin cans into a metals-only stream.

Sorted materials are baled and shipped to customers, where they are used as feedstock for new products.

How Recycling Works

We all know it’s a good idea to recycle — but have you ever wondered what happens to that aluminum can or cardboard box after you put it in the recycling bin?

What happens next? What does it become in its second life?

Let’s find out.

Project Benefits

Recycling Education

As WM commits to working alongside communities to cultivate integrated sustainability solutions, a brand new recycling education room will be integrated into the Philadelphia Recycling Facility, which will be open to the public for scheduled virtual education and learning experiences. For more information about WM’s recycling resources, visit the Recycle Right^® page.

Increased Access to Recycling

With the demand for recycled content products continuing to rise, the Philadelphia Recycling Facility is expected to enable WM to capture more recycled materials and increase access to recycling for its customers. Visit the City of Philadelphia Recycling Program for more details.

Career Opportunities

WM is proud to employ team members from across the city of Philadelphia and the surrounding communities. Our local facilities offer a wide range of roles that support our mission to serve customers, protect the environment, and contribute to stronger, more sustainable neighborhoods. To explore current openings and learn more about building a career with WM, click here.

Philadelphia Expands Recycling to Include Plastic & Paper Cups

Philadelphia is expanding its curbside recycling program to accept polypropylene plastic cups and paper to-go cups, a move expected to keep 1.5 million pounds of material per year out of landfills. The collected material will be processed at the WM Philadelphia Recycling Facility, giving everyday cups a second life and helping advance national recycling standards. WM's recent addition of these materials to its universal list of accepted recyclables helped accelerate the city's ability to move forward.

"Philadelphia's leadership sets the tone for municipalities, boosts resident confidence and improves recycling capture rates citywide for impact that will go well beyond the city," said Tara Hemmer, Chief Sustainability Officer, WM.