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PHOENIX, March 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) today released its 2014 Sustainability Report, which introduces the Company's sustainability plan – the preservation of a Blue Planet™ – and its  five pillars of sustainability: safety, operations, materials management, communities, and people.

Serving as Republic's foundation for the future, Blue Planet is the Company's commitment to protecting the earth. It also defines the Company's approach to environmental responsibility through decreased vehicle emissions, innovative landfill technologies, use of renewable energy, community engagement and employee growth opportunities.

As part of the report, Republic is introducing specific goals that focus on three high impact areas to drive emissions reductions – recycled commodities, renewable energy and fleet operations.

By 2018, the Company plans to:

• Add 150,000 tons per year or more of recycling capacity to enable growth of recycling within the communities it serves;
• Develop at least two landfill gas and renewable energy projects per year, resulting in roughly 20,000 tons per year of avoided carbon dioxide; and
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the Company's collection vehicles by three percent.

"Because we are striving to be America's preferred recycling and solid waste partner, we evaluated our internal operations to better understand our environmental impact, how to provide effortless solutions to our customers that empower them to do the right thing, and ultimately, ways to make our planet safer and better for everyone," said Don Slager, president and chief executive officer. "In 2015, we will continue to explore new opportunities to drive efficiencies and create shared value among our customers, employees and communities."

Highlights of the report include:

Placing a priority on safety: Republic, an industry leader in safety, is investing in programs and practices that make safety the foundation for protecting its employees and communities. Currently, the Company's safety performance - based on the Occupational Safety & Health Administration's recordable rates - is 42 percent better than the industry average.

Reducing the impact of fleet operations: To date, the Company has converted 2,200 trucks to compressed natural gas and has 36 fueling stations nationwide. In addition, its standardized vehicle maintenance program, OneFleet, is improving fuel efficiency and routing.

Managing materials recovery in a responsible manner: The Company collected nearly five million tons of recyclable materials in 2014, and continues to make investments in recycling infrastructure that offers recycling solutions to more residents and businesses across the country.

Providing renewable energy resources: Through the capture and use of methane and the offset of fossil fuels, the use of landfill gas provides the economy and environment with significant benefits.

Delivering landfill excellence and best practices: From leachate extraction that is treated and returned to community watersheds to gas collection systems that harness and convert methane gas into renewable energy, Republic operates more than 300 active and closed landfills across the country that are highly engineered containment systems responsibly protecting the environment and processing the nation's waste.

Engaging with customers and communities: Operating in more than 240 markets, Republic provides a robust and growing suite of products and services to make proper disposal easy for its 14 million customers, while giving them peace of mind that they are making a positive environmental impact.

Aligning people to serve customers and preserve our Blue Planet: Republic is focused on attracting and retaining talented professionals who have an unwavering commitment to the planet to delivering superior customer service.

The report is available at: http://mms.prnasia.com/republicservices/20150313/index.html.

About Republic Services:
Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) is an industry leader in U.S. recycling and non-hazardous solid waste. Through its subsidiaries, Republic's collection companies, recycling centers, transfer stations and landfills focus on providing effective solutions to make proper waste disposal effortless for their commercial, industrial, municipal, residential and oilfield customers. We'll handle it from here.™, the brand's tagline, lets customers know they can count on Republic to provide a superior experience while fostering a sustainable Blue Planet™ for future generations to enjoy a cleaner, safer and healthier world.

For more information, visit the Republic Services website at republicservices.com. "Like" Republic on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RepublicServices and follow on Twitter @RepublicService.

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SOURCE Republic Services, Inc.