On Wednesday, September 28, members of SF State’s Net Impact chapter took a field trip to Recology’s San Francisco Solid Waste Transfer and Recycling Center.

Recology is San Francisco’s garbage, recycling, and compost collection agency, and currently works with the City toward a goal of zero waste. The tour included stops at Recology’s Education Center, Household Hazardous Waste Facility, and the transfer station, where all the garbage and recycling collected in San Francisco ends up for sorting and recycling.

Recology operators spoke with Net Impact members about the history of their company, their current business model, and their efforts to educate the public on the importance of recycling and sustainability. From this firsthand look at the enormous amount of waste materials collected from San Francisco, the Net Impact members better appreciate the challenges of properly maintaining a municipal waste stream.

Recology also conducts the Artist in Residence Program, where local artists are provided with studio space, a stipend, and materials reclaimed from the waste collected to create works of art. This artwork is then put on display at Recology’s art studio and sculpture garden for educational purposes.

To see more photos from the field trip, visit Net Impact SFSU’s Facebook page

Learn more about Recology