Recology Vallejo announced plans last week to permanently close a portion of its materials recovery facility on September 30, resulting in teh elimination of 25 positions. The company notified both State and Solano County officials of the impending closure.

While the entire Recology Vallejo facility will remain operational, the closure will effect only a specific section of the plant, according to General Manager Derek Nelson’s written notice to the Board of Supervisors. Recology Vallejo, a Bay Area-based waste management company, recently surpassed 1.5 million tons of recyclable and compostable materials processed in 2024.

The Vallejo facility, which opened in 2007, currently provides residential and commercial waste collection services to a significant portion of Solano County cities. The Solano County Board of Supervisors received official notification of the partial closure on Friday, August 1, thru a Worker adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) statement. This statement detailed the expected layoffs affecting 25 of the 28 employees working in the materials recovery section.

Teamsters Local 315, a Martinez-based labor union, represents the affected employees. Nelson’s statement indicated that union members “may have bumping rights under the collective bargaining agreement between the union and the company.” These rights could allow employees to potentially secure alternative positions within Recology based on seniority, qualifications, and job classification.

representatives from both Recology and teamsters Local 315 were unavailable for comment on Tuesday. Generally, “bumping rights” enable employees facing layoff to claim open positions within the company, prioritizing those with longer tenure.These rights are commonly outlined in labor union agreements,as is the case with Teamsters Local 315.

The impact of the partial closure on Recology’s garbage and recycling services in Vallejo remains unclear. A list detailing the job titles, positions, and expected departure dates of the 25 affected employees will be posted at the Vallejo facility, the company informed supervisors.