Rubicon Global Announces Waste and Recycling Technology Partnership with the City of Atlanta

Department of Public Works incorporates Rubicon technology into hauling trucks

Data enables Office of Sustainability to assess landfill diversion and recycling rates 

ATLANTA, Dec. 01, 2016 -- Atlanta-based company Rubicon Global today announced the start of a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership with the city of Atlanta that will help the city accelerate its environmental leadership by using technology to improve its residential waste and recycling services. Beginning this week, the city will use Rubicon’s proprietary cloud-based technology platform as part of an initial six-month program.

“Rubicon is building a new model for the waste and recycling industry, realigning incentives away from landfills and in favor of more sustainable communities,” said Michael Allegretti, Director of Public Policy for Rubicon.

“Mayor Reed and the City of Atlanta share these goals, and we are incredibly excited to bring our technology platform to Atlanta’s residential waste systems,” continued Allegretti. “While many leaders talk about a future based on smart solutions, Mayor Reed and Rubicon are delivering a smart platform today. We are thrilled to bring real innovation to the public sector and demonstrate the benefit for our hometown taxpayers.”

"We are excited to work with Atlanta-based company Rubicon to explore new technologies for innovation in our waste management systems,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “We have ambitious, clear goals for improving efficiency and increasing recycling rates and effectiveness. This unique partnership with Rubicon will open new opportunities and support our conservation efforts.”  

Smartphones loaded with the Rubicon hauler mobile app will be placed into the City of Atlanta Department of Public Works’ entire fleet of residential solid waste, recycling and yard waste trucks, servicing all 96,000 households that lie within the Atlanta city limits. The Department of Public Works will also utilize Rubicon’s desktop vendor portal, which works with the mobile app, to create operational efficiency, improve customer service and ultimately lead to savings for taxpayers.

The partnership will also provide valuable planning data to the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, most notably by enabling real-time information on current landfill diversion and recycling rates in support of the City’s zero waste efforts. The data will also help the City understand how to better target its recycling education efforts, quantify the carbon avoidance from recycling activities and determine vehicle emission reduction targets in the City’s solid waste fleet through route optimization and other features.

A resolution establishing the six-month program passed the Atlanta City Council unanimously in October 2016.

The partnership with Rubicon is the latest example of Atlanta’s commitment to achieving long-term sustainability and best-in-class government operations. The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability has implemented a city-wide initiative called Power to Change, which measures sustainability across ten impact areas. Power to Change is the result of the contributions of more than 300 stakeholders across Atlanta, representing neighborhoods, schools, businesses, community organizations and government agencies. More information on Power to Change can be found here: http://p2catl.com.

Rubicon is a cloud-based, full-service waste and recycling company focused on sustainability. It works with customers, including many Fortune 500 companies, to find inefficiencies and cost-savings in their waste streams and to develop new and innovative ways to reduce, re-use and recycle waste. Rubicon is based in Atlanta and has offices in Lexington, Ky., New York and San Francisco. The company, which employs more than 300 at its Buckhead headquarters, was recently named a Next Billion-Dollar Startup by Forbes magazine.

About Rubicon Global
Rubicon Global is the worldwide leader in sustainable, cloud-based waste and recycling solutions. Using its proprietary technology-enabled platform, the company provides comprehensive waste stream solutions that enable companies to reduce operating expenses and implement recycling programs. Rubicon’s goal is to create a more sustainable solution for businesses and the planet. Learn more at www.rubiconglobal.com.

Will Haraway 
Backbeat Marketing 
[email protected]