Sustainability Roadmap

The next five years of the waste and recycling industry will undoubtedly feature enhanced AI, greater safety and added options to reduce waste, recycle more and dispose less. Whatever happens, one thing we’ll never change and is Rumpke’s commitment to provide essential and complete solid waste solutions to customers of all types. Today and tomorrow, the Rumpke family and its team will keep researching, innovating and implementing the best expertise, technology, practices, tools and facilities to keep our neighborhoods clean and green.

Hauling

• Rumpke will continue exploring other alternative fuels such as hydrogen-powered vehicles.
• Rumpke will expand our network of CNG fueling stations as we grow our CNG fleet by approximately 100 trucks annually.
• Rumpke will strive to increase preventative maintenance tracking and completion to increase the longevity of its fleet.
• Rumpke is exploring AI technology for container maintenance.
• Rumpke will begin testing technology that will help us identify the contents of customer loads to better target hazards and recycling improvement opportunities.
• Rumpke will employ additional onboard AI to assist with continued driver safety and improved efficiency.

Landfills

• Rumpke will seek and initiate more wetland development when and where possible.
• Rumpke will collaborate with M2X to build and operate landfill-gas-to-methanol systems.
• Rumpke will continue using more automated well heads, well tuning, dewatering and drone, plane and/or satellite-powered methane mapping to improve gas recovery infrastructure and maximize well density.
• In 2025, Rumpke’s two newest landfill-gas-to-energy systems come online, increasing Rumpke’s total landfill energy output to power 90,000 homes.
• Rumpke will progress leachate treatment designs for onsite pretreatment at our sites and will begin building plants in 2026.
• Rumpke will continue employing leachate management best practices with strategically built landfills and fill plans prioritizing cover and drainage.
• Rumpke will reuse waste streams for alternate daily cover, solidification agent or soil amendment at its landfills.

Recycling

• Rumpke will continue increasing recycling options by identifying new end markets for more materials.
• Rumpke will engage with trade associations, manufacturers and end users to conduct research to identify additional streams of recyclable product packaging.
• Rumpke will broaden the list of acceptable recyclables to include additional items such as toothpaste tubes and squeeze bottles.
• Rumpke will extend the acceptability of thermoform containers (clamshells) throughout its service area.
• Rumpke will continue installing new sorting technologies to enhance recovery at its material recovery facilities.

• In 2025, Rumpke will install more efficient baling equipment at Rumpke Recycling Cincinnati.
• Rumpke will expand use of battery detection technology.
• Rumpke will renovate its glass processing system to target production of raw materials for the glass beverage container industry.
• Rumpke will renovate Rumpke Recycling Cincinnati to include AI technology, trommels, and ballistics to enhance recycling efficiency.
• By 2030, Rumpke will process 850,000 tons of recycling annually.

"Sustainability means increasing the longevity of our disposal options for future generations to ensure cost effective solutions in our communities."

– Greg Pitzer, Sales Manager, Bluegrass Region

Infrastructure

• Rumpke will open a renovated Zanesville, Ohio, Transfer Station.
• Rumpke will build a Union Township Transfer Depot in Clermont County, Ohio.
• Rumpke will build a Clark County, Ohio, Transfer Station and Hauling Depot.
• Rumpke will expand its Delaware, Ohio, hauling operation.
• Rumpke will pursue infrastructure improvements at its Akron, Ohio, facility.
• Rumpke will initiate campus improvements at its Dayton, Ohio, hauling operation.
• Rumpke will build a new West Area office.
• Rumpke will renovate, expand and build new maintenance and material recovery facilities at Rumpke Recycling Cincinnati.
• Rumpke will renovate and rebuild its Columbus, Ohio Hauling and Maintenance Operation.
• Rumpke will partner with Bartholomew County, Indiana, to build a recycling transfer at the Bartholomew County Landfill.
• Rumpke will continue to construct landfill air space throughout its landfill network.

• Rumpke will continue to expand its CNG fueling capabilities at a variety of locations including the following:
• Clark County Depot (January 2026): Fueling station for 40 trucks
• Ohio Valley District (July 2026): Fueling station for 35 trucks
• Covington Hauling (October 2025): Fueling station for 80 trucks
• Clermont County Depot (January 2026): Fueling station for 40 trucks
• Scott County Hauling (July 2026): Fueling station for 25 trucks
• St. Bernard (To be determined): Fueling station for 100 trucks
• Rumpke will pursue landfill acquisitions that complement its existing infrastructure and have potential to boost market position.
• Rumpke will continue to pursue more transfer station siting, construction, or acquisitions as necessary within Rumpke’s service footprint.
• Rumpke will update cyber security as well as internal and external facing software to ensure business efficiency, aggressive digital marketing, e-commerce, and best customer experience.

Procurement

• Rumpke will review opportunities to reduce waste by selecting equipment that ensures more sustainable practices.
• Rumpke will continue to look for vendors that offer products manufactured with a certain percentage of post-consumer resin and/or recyclable materials. Currently, Rumpke uses 350 products that are manufactured from recyclable materials.
• Rumpke will add green alternative prompts to all its online supply stores.
• Rumpke will explore and implement options with vendors, such as Amazon, to promote the purchase of carbon-free, Climate Partner, GreenCircle, etc. products.
• Rumpke will pursue eco-friendly ink, recycled paper, NatureSolv technology — carbonless capsule technology to create a carbonless capsule that is more environmentally responsible.
• Rumpke will continue to implement low-flow fixtures and toilets and energy-conserving appliances at its locations.
• Rumpke will investigate opportunities for solar powered exterior lighting.
• Rumpke will continue installing motion sensor lighting in Rumpke facility common areas to reduce power consumption.
• Rumpke will continue to offer eco-friendly uniform rental. Our current uniform provider offers 200 apparel styles made from sustainable materials.
• Rumpke will continue to repurpose old furniture and select used furniture when possible.
• Rumpke will explore and buy eco-friendly cleaning supplies.
• Rumpke will begin to request energy accreditation from new vendors.

"Sustainability in procurement means choosing products and services that meet our business needs without compromising environmental integrity. It means making responsible decisions that align with our values, reduce our environmental impact and support a more sustainable future. Our internal and external customers are relying on us to act and purchase with purpose and integrity."

– Michelle Stone, Procurement Manager