Balcones Recycling celebrated the grand opening of their newest state-of-the-art facility, located in San Antonio, Texas, as well as their 30th anniversary. Balcones is a business unit of Circular Services, the largest privately held recycling company in the U.S. The inauguration marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to revolutionize recycling and increase recycling rates across the country. Equipped with a 50 ton-per-hour system by CP Group, the San Antonio Materials Recovery Facility will be the first with a fully-automated container line, making it the most automated facility in the country. The facility will process both residential and commercial single-stream material for the City of San Antonio and surrounding communities. Recovered recyclable materials will be marketed in North America.
The 145,000 square foot facility represents a $68 million investment in San Antonio recycling. The campus also includes the latest innovations in recycling technology, amenities dedicated to employee wellness, and community engagement programs. “As we established when we first sought out this project, our goal is to deliver a recycling campus that is without peer anywhere in the country,” said Balcones president Adam Vehik. “This facility is living proof of our commitment to that goal.”
The San Antonio MRF is Balcones’ fourth facility in Texas. The company will create approximately 70 new full-time environmental jobs in San Antonio to operate the facility. On-site resources will include:
- Integrated walking trails, recreational facilities, and a community garden program for employees.
- Viewing gallery and education outreach activities for the community.
- Drop-off options for recyclable materials outside of the City program.
The City of San Antonio awarded Balcones with a 15 year municipal recycling contract in April 2022, which commenced August 1, 2024. The facility’s advanced capabilities enable the recycling of a wide range of materials with unprecedented precision and efficiency. It will also be one of the first facilities of its kind with the capability to sort hard-to-recycle materials like film and flexible plastics. Further, the facility will serve as a hub for education and outreach, offering tours, workshops, and educational programs to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and serve as a community resource.