California's largest recycling business closes all 284 centers, lays off 750

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — California's largest operator of recycling redemption centers shut down Monday and laid off 750 employees.

RePlanet closed all 284 of its centers, and company president David Lawrence said the decision was driven by increased business costs and falling prices of recycled aluminum and PET plastic, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

The move came three years after RePlanet closed 191 of its recycling centers and laid off 278 workers.

Now many San Francisco Bay Area residents have few or no options for redeeming their recyclables, which is especially concerning for those who live in poverty or experience homelessness and rely on recycling for income.

RePlanet had three locations in San Francisco: one on Bayview Blvd., one on Williams Ave., and one at Pacific Supermarket. There were also three centers in Alameda.

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