Skip to content
2020 Corporate Citizenship Report

Ending Waste and Driving Innovation

INTRODUCTION
01
Waste and recycling in the circular economy

Waste is a direct outcome of the way our global economy currently works, but it is becoming clear that waste also threatens the way in which it needs to function in the future.

Waste and the circular economy
Our Hauler Network

Haulers are at the heart of our efforts. We have thousands of suppliers providing recycling, upcycling, and reuse services…

View story
American private sector: We earn more when we divert more
25%
From 2018 to 2020, a Rubicon customer’s landfill diversion increased by 25%.
View story
Waste and National Security
Waste mismanagement can exacerbate regional water shortages and create water stress, a significant cause of conflict globally
View story
The Next Frontier of Waste: Space
$100K
Rubicon will give $100,000 to the school that devises the most innovative solution to the problem of space waste.
View story
Waste and recycling and our cities

$2M

Rubicon helped Kansas City, Missouri, achieve more than $2 million in annual taxpayer savings in waste and recycling collection costs.

View story
The challenge of plastics

Plastics is one of the most prominent challenges facing those seeking to build a circular economy.

View story
ONLY 14% OF PLASTIC PACKAGING IS COLLECTED FOR RECYCLING
14%
Innovating away from plastics

rePurpose Global helps clients measure their plastic footprint and fund vetted impact projects that remove and recover an equivalent amount of plastic waste from the environment.

View story
Waste and recycling, America’s cities, and their taxpayers

By virtue of necessity, the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a wave of single-use, disposable items.

View story
Rural waste case study:

University of Pikeville Rural Waste Innovation Challenge

View story
Promoting transparency, insights, and action

One key challenge for businesses in addressing waste is staying current with solid waste and recycling requirements.

View story

As environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges become increasingly significant factors for our national security, I am confident that the private sector is well-positioned to face these issues head on.

General Joseph Votel , President & CEO of Business Executives for National Security
02
Waste and recycling and environmental impact

Waste is a powerful source of greenhouse gas emissions. Landfills are the third-largest industrial emitter of methane.

Waste and environmental impact
Rubicon’s commitment to environmental innovation
Net zero by 2040
In 2020 Rubicon signed The Climate Pledge by Amazon and Global Optimism.
View story
Small business innovation: Rubicon’s hauler and recycler network
5%
Transportation makes up approximately 5 percent of our customers’ waste related emissions each year.
View story
Ending food waste

Rubicon has helped Beyond Meat avoid 513 metric tons of CO2 emissions.

View story

Haul of Fame feature

Hauler Spotlight: F&L Construction

Explore the great work that F&L Construction and other haulers from across the country are doing.

View story
03
B Corp Status

Each year, our B Corp score has risen. In 2017 and 2018, we received recognition for Best for Governance, and in 2018, 2019, and 2021 we were recognized for Best for Environment.

America’s communities
Building the workforce of the future 
We introduced a permanent remote work policy in 2020 to limit the spread of COVID-19.
View story
Culture, benefits, and professional growth
Our company’s commitment to our people is grounded in the belief that our policies should support physical and financial health.
View story
George Washington Carver Award

Each year, we recognize one employee with the George Washington Carver Award to spur innovation on our teams.

View story

Jordan Pilsch

Jason Jones

Ryan Cooper

A culture of learning and innovation

Learning and development is another area of focus at Rubicon.

View story
Commitment to opportunity for all
Our ESG Committee plays a central role in developing goals and action plans.
View story
Community partnerships and outreach
In October 2021, we launched our third annual “Trick or Trash” campaign.
View story
Rubicon.org: Empowering philanthropy throughout America
The Rubicon team volunteers on the ground to support organizations addressing environmental problems.
View story
COMMITMENT TO AMERICA’S VETERANS
A key driver of our service-oriented culture is our Veterans Affinity Group.
View story
Full report matrix
Use this at-a-glance matrix to navigate quickly to specific areas of the report.
View the matrix
Border

Bold action for a cleaner and better future

At Rubicon, we have an unrelenting commitment to ending waste by helping our customers prevent it, recycle it, and divert it from landfills. We are proud of our experience working with cities to deploy next-generation technology in their waste and recycling fleets, innovating alongside haulers to make their collection efforts more efficient. This work not only saves money—it gives our communities a cleaner and safer future.

We are innovating in ways we could not have foreseen during a pandemic that has upended our world, and we recognize that there is still a massive opportunity to give people a better choice on waste. We also acknowledge that we all can play a critical role in elevating the voices of vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by waste.

We are excited for the challenge that will define the global agenda in the coming decades: ensuring that successive generations prosper in healthy and safe environments.