The Shoreway Environmental Center, California's Greenest Recycling Center and Transfer Station, serves as a regional solid waste and recycling facility for the receipt, handling and transfer of solid waste and recyclables collected from the RethinkWaste service area (southern and central San Mateo County).
Shoreway serves as a national model for sustainable building practices and innovative recycling and material handling operations. A grand opening was held on September 27, 2011, to mark the completion of a master plan improvement project to transform the former outdated facility into the new Shoreway Environmental Center. The three-phase improvement project included traffic improvements, a new state-of-the art MRF, an expanded Transfer Station, a new Environmental Education Center, and "Green Building" features all designed to increase customer convenience and safety. RethinkWaste purchased the Shoreway Environmental Center, then known as the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center, in 2000 from BFI Waste Systems of North America.
Residential and commercial solid waste and recyclable materials that are collected by the franchise hauler, Recology San Mateo County, are taken to Shoreway for processing and shipment. The facility is operated by South Bay Recycling (SBR) under a 10-year contract with RethinkWaste as of January 1, 2011.
Shoreway is located on the border of the cities of San Carlos and Redwood City at 333 Shoreway Road, San Carlos, on the east side of highway 101 (north of Holly Road/Redwood Shores Parkway.)
The Shoreway Environmental Center functions as an integrated campus with separate buildings used as follows:
Transfer Station:
The Transfer Station is used for the unloading and transfer of solid waste, construction and demolition (C&D) debris and organics. The Transfer Station is open to the public every day except select holidays.
Materials Recovery Facility:
The MRF is used for the unloading, processing and shipment to end markets of recyclables from homes and businesses. The MRF is not open to the public.
Public Recycling Center:
The Public Recycling Center offers the buyback of recyclables, and free drop off of certain materials such electronic waste (TVs, computers, etc.) and some household hazardous waste (batteries, paints, waste oil, etc.)
Environmental Education Center:
Starting in January 2012, RethinkWaste will offer free tours to schools and the general public of the Shoreway Environmental Center.
Recology San Mateo County Offices:
Recology has its administrative offices located at Shoreway at 225 Shoreway Road, and is open to the public for bill payments and customer questions. Recology's operations yard is also located at Shoreway.
South Bay Recycling (SBR) Offices:
SBR, which operates the Shoreway Environmental Center on behalf of RethinkWaste, has its administrative offices housed in the MRF building. SBR's operations yard is also located at Shoreway.
The site operations are regulated by a number of local and State agencies with regular facility inspections. The facility is separately permitted by the California State Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) to receive 3,000 tons per day of solid waste and recyclables.
Please follow the links for more information on the Shoreway Environmental Center rates, acceptable materials, location and hours, Environmental Education Center, Shoreway Brochure and Shoreway Site Maps.
