Republic Services accelerated its sustainability strategy in 2025 by investing $973 million in environmental and social initiatives, delivering significant progress in greenhouse gas emissions reduction, renewable energy, fleet electrification, advanced recycling, workplace safety, employee development, biodiversity conservation, and community engagement.
Republic Services Sustainability Report highlights steady progress toward its 2030 Sustainability Goals while strengthening long-term environmental and business performance.
President and Chief Executive Officer Jon Vander Ark said sustainability remains central to creating value for customers, communities, and the business, with investments ranging from the industry’s largest fleet electrification program to initiatives supporting millions of people across the communities it serves. The company’s sustainability strategy is led by Tim Oudman, Senior Vice President of Sustainability Innovation.
Republic Services invested $973 million during 2025 to expand renewable energy, modernize recycling infrastructure, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve workplace safety, strengthen employee development, and support community initiatives. The investment reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to achieving measurable ESG outcomes while advancing its 2030 sustainability roadmap.
The company’s climate strategy continued to deliver measurable results. Compared with its 2017 baseline, Republic Services reduced total fleet emissions by 37 percent and lowered absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent, moving closer to its Science Based Targets initiative-approved goal of reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 35 percent by 2030. Its Climate Transition Road Map continues to guide investments in landfill gas collection, methane reduction, renewable natural gas (RNG), fleet electrification, and other low-carbon technologies.
Fleet electrification also gained momentum. Republic Services now operates more than 180 electric collection trucks supported by charging infrastructure at 32 operational sites, making it one of the industry’s largest electric refuse truck fleets. The company also commissioned nine new renewable natural gas projects during 2025, supporting its objective of increasing beneficial landfill biogas reuse by 50 percent by 2030 compared with the 2017 baseline.
The company’s renewable energy portfolio continues to expand. Republic Services now operates 77 landfill gas-to-energy projects and seven solar facilities. In addition, investments in more than 100 utility-scale solar projects generated over 2 million megawatt-hours of renewable electricity during 2025, strengthening its clean energy footprint.
Republic Services also expanded its circular economy infrastructure with the opening of the Indianapolis Polymer Center and Blue Polymers Complex, the first co-located recycling facility of its kind in North America. The integrated complex is capable of producing more than 175 million pounds of recycled plastics annually, helping manufacturers increase recycled content while reducing dependence on virgin plastics. Construction also began on the company’s third Polymer Center, supporting its goal of increasing material recovery and circularity by 40 percent by 2030.
Independent analysis showed Republic Services’ recycled PET flake delivers a 54 percent lower global warming potential than comparable recycled PET products and an 82 percent lower carbon footprint than virgin PET resin. Since 2017, the company has invested approximately $1 billion in recycling technology and infrastructure. Today, nearly 70 AI-powered robotic systems operate across 26 recycling facilities, including 24 robotic sorters installed during 2025. Together, these systems processed nearly 3 billion recyclable items and recovered approximately 3,000 tons of additional recyclable material.
Safety performance continued to outperform industry benchmarks. Republic Services maintained a workplace safety rate 23 percent better than the industry average based on OSHA recordable rates while completing approximately 735,000 safety training hours during 2025. The company remains on track toward its 2030 target of achieving an OSHA Total Recordable Incident Rate of 2.0 or less. Its Belleville, Michigan Environmental Solutions facility also achieved seven consecutive years without an OSHA recordable incident.
Employee engagement reached a record score of 87, approaching the company’s 2030 target of 88. During the year, Republic Services trained 2,335 leaders through leadership development programs and supported 15 service members through the U.S. Department of Defense SkillBridge program to help military personnel transition into civilian careers.
Beyond its operations, Republic Services preserved 13,138 acres of open space across its landfill network, protecting wildlife habitats, conservation areas, and recreational spaces. Community programs positively impacted 5.7 million people during 2025, increasing cumulative community impact to 25 million people since 2017. The company also awarded 1,030 community grants across 653 communities and funded 14 National Neighborhood Promise projects focused on neighborhood revitalization and long-term resilience.
With $973 million invested in sustainability during 2025, 37 percent lower fleet emissions, 20 percent lower Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, more than 180 electric trucks, nine new RNG projects, 77 landfill gas-to-energy facilities, seven solar sites, more than 100 utility-scale solar investments, over 2 million megawatt-hours of renewable electricity generation, $1 billion invested in recycling since 2017, nearly 70 AI-powered robots, 735,000 training hours, 13,138 acres preserved, and 5.7 million people supported in 2025, Republic Services continues to accelerate its transition toward a lower-carbon, more circular economy while advancing its ambitious 2030 sustainability goals.
SHAFANA FAZAL