SWEEP Announces Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery as New Pilot Participant
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — SWEEP (Solid Waste Environmental Excellence Performance Standard) is excited to announce that Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery (MDRR) has signed on as one of its newest pilot participants. A northern California waste and recycling collection service, MDRR joins Waste Management as the second private sector participant to pilot SWEEP’s sustainable performance standard for the solid waste and materials management industry.
Formerly known as Garaventa Enterprises, MDRR started its garbage service in 1934 and has grown from a horse and buggy operation solely serving the City of Concord, to serving over 250,000 residences and thousands of businesses around Contra Costa and Solano Counties in California.
The organization’s long-standing commitment to responsible solid waste management is exemplified by the Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery Park located in Pittsburg, California. The park is home to the area’s largest state-of-the-art recycling processing center which aims to divert all recyclable items from being landfilled, including paper, metals, cardboard, yard waste, urban wood waste, construction materials and even filters used oil and oil filters. The recovery park has also been recognized for its on-site community education center which hosts tours, educational events, and youth summer camps.
“Joining the SWEEP pilot program is an excellent opportunity for us to measure our current operational practices against a robust set of well-informed, objective criteria. We look forward to learning a lot, reinforcing what we are currently doing well, and discovering opportunities where we can improve,” said Ron Proto, CEO of Mount Diablo Resource Recovery.
“Our franchise jurisdictions have come to expect and appreciate MDRR’s commitment to sustainable practices. The SWEEP certification will only reinforce the confidence our jurisdictions place in us to operate our business in a way that is cost-effective for the ratepayers while also fulfilling the public’s commitment to responsible, sustainable waste management.”
As a top-performing solid waste management company, Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery is not only well-positioned to excel in the SWEEP certification process but will also aid in the standard’s development. MDRR will be able to provide SWEEP with insight into regionally specific solid waste and material management issues for private haulers and solid waste processors in northern California and beyond.
The SWEEP Standard is the only comprehensive sustainable performance and environmental leadership standard covering municipal solid waste programs and the private companies that support them. For more information, visit www.sweepstandard.org.