FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2025

CONTACT
Kate Mason
[email protected]
(615) 419-5185

San Francisco, CA— The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) today announced the successful completion of a Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Transition Plan for Recology, a resource recovery company that provides collection and disposal services to more than 2.5 million individuals and 100,000 businesses across California, Oregon, and Washington.

The project was made possible by a Strategic Industry Grant from the C.H. Robinson Foundation, which supports nonprofit organizations committed to helping the supply chain and logistics industry thrive. The grant supported CTE in delivering a complimentary ZEV Transition Plan for a selected Class 4–8 fleet operator, with Recology’s San Francisco fleet chosen through a competitive expression of interest process.

CTE’s ZEV Fleet Transition Plans are tailored to the specific needs of each fleet, analyzing vehicle operations, infrastructure requirements, total cost of ownership, and emissions reductions. For Recology’s San Francisco operations, CTE reviewed a fleet inventory of nearly 600 vehicles, including refuse trucks, pickups, roll-off trucks, and tractors, ultimately developing a detailed assessment of the opportunities and challenges in scaling zero-emission operations.

“CTE is honored to work with Recology on this important step toward decarbonizing the solid waste sector,” said Steve Clermont, Managing Director of Planning and Deployment at CTE. “With the support of the C.H. Robinson Foundation, we’ve developed a replicable framework that not only helps Recology evaluate its path forward, but can also guide future transitions across the freight and logistics industries.”

As the first waste management company to receive a CTE ZEV Transition Plan, Recology sees this project as a pivotal step in advancing its long-standing commitment to innovation and sustainability.

"This project gives Recology a clearer view of what a zero-emission future could require,” said Salvatore Coniglio, Chief Executive Officer of Recology. “From vehicle availability to infrastructure costs, the solid waste industry has some hurdles to overcome. Having this data helps us to make informed decisions as we continue innovating toward sustainable solutions for our fleet.”

Recology has already demonstrated leadership in advancing zero-emission technologies. In 2024, the company was the first to pilot the nation’s first hydrogen-powered refuse collection vehicle, developed in partnership with New Way Trucks and Hyzon.

The ZEV Transition Plan builds on this momentum, giving Recology a data-driven strategy that identifies the opportunities and challenges associated with a long-term fleet transition. By combining operational analysis with cost estimates and infrastructure planning, the plan equips Recology with a tool that will support Recology’s fleet planning to reduce emissions while continuing to provide essential services to millions of customers.

“At C.H. Robinson, we believe that advancing sustainability in logistics is not just good business—it’s essential for the future of our industry, communities and our planet,” said Rachel Schwalbach, Vice President, Environment, Social & Governance and President of the C.H. Robinson Foundation. “Progress happens when we work together, and we’re proud to be a part of this journey and to help drive positive change in the communities where we live and work.”

Recology’s participation in this initiative demonstrates how waste and recycling companies can play a vital role in advancing zero-emission technologies. By embedding sustainability into fleet strategy, the initiative demonstrates how environmental and economic benefits can ripple throughout the transportation and logistics sector.

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ABOUT CTE

The Center for Transportation and the Environment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to improve the health of our climate and communities by bringing people together to develop and commercialize clean, efficient, and sustainable transportation technologies. CTE collaborates with federal, state, and local governments, fleets, and vehicle technology manufacturers to complete our mission. If interested in learning more about CTE, please visit cte.tv.

ABOUT RECOLOGY

Recology is the largest 100% employee-owned company in the waste recovery industry. Based in San Francisco, Recology operates throughout California, Oregon, and Washington. Recology’s mission represents a fundamental shift from traditional waste management to resource recovery, seeking to eliminate waste by developing and discovering sustainable resource recovery practices that can be implemented globally. Recology seeks to achieve this by creating a resource ecosystem—one that both protects the environment and sustains the local communities the company serves. Recology’s focus on sustainable operations and practices makes it possible for diverse communities Recology serves to achieve high landfill diversion and meet sustainability goals. Visit recology.com to learn more.

ABOUT C.H. ROBINSON

C.H. Robinson delivers logistics like no one else™. Companies around the world look to us to reimagine supply chains, advance freight technology, and solve logistics challenges—from the simple to the most complex. 83,000 customers and 450,000 contract carriers in our network trust us to manage 37 million shipments and $23 billion in freight annually. Through our unmatched expertise, unrivaled scale, and tailored solutions, we ensure the seamless delivery of goods across industries and continents via truckload, less-than-truckload, ocean, air, and beyond. As a responsible global citizen, through the company and C.H. Robinson Foundation, we make supply chains more sustainable and proudly contribute millions to the causes that matter most to our employees. For more information, visit us at chrobinson.com (Nasdaq: CHRW).