Aurora recycling and hauling facility to help meet Colorado sustainability goals

AURORA | Waste Management ceremoniously broke ground this week on a new recycling facility and hauling site in Aurora as part of a $100 million project aimed at expanding the state’s waste management capabilities.

The two facilities, which will be built on a 50-acre portion of a larger 160-acre parcel, are expected to be operational by mid-2026 and will employ more than 130 workers, according to Waste Management officials.

The project includes a 30,000-square-foot hauling site and an 84,400-square-foot recycling facility.

Both are being built adjacent to the Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site, and are designed to support Colorado’s growing demand for recycling services and lower-emission waste collection, state and Waste Management officials said in statements.

“In Colorado we are focused on building a more sustainable future, and efforts like this one can help us reach that goal,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. “I am excited to see businesses such as Waste Management finding innovative ways to reduce waste and recycle efficiently, while helping Colorado continue leading in clean energy and sustainability.”

A key feature of the Aurora hauling site will be a fleet of more than 100 trucks powered by natural gas instead of diesel. The trucks are intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% and lower nitrogen oxide emissions by 90%.

The recycling facility will have the capacity to process up to 168,000 tons of material a year, employing new sorting technologies to handle a variety of recyclables. Equipped with auger screens, optical sorters, and a plastic-film recovery system, the facility is designed to process materials at a rate of 40 tons per hour. Once sorted, recyclable materials will be baled and used in the production of new products.

Waste Management officials touted the investments as part of a broader $1.4 billion initiative across the United States and Canada aimed at upgrading recycling facilities through 2026. By then, the company expects to add 2.8 million tons of annual processing capacity, driven by rising demand for recycled content products.

“The construction of the WM Denver East hauling site and recycling facility represents our commitment to supporting local communities and enhancing recycling infrastructure in Colorado,” Jason Chan, Director of Business Development, said in a statement.

The project is also part of a state effort to increase environmental and sustainability goals. The new Aurora campus is seen as a critical component of advancing those objectives, according to state officials.