Suez Environnement links with cloud-based waste and recycling firm Rubicon

French firm Suez Environnement has announced a strategic partnership with a cloud-based waste and recycling company, Rubicon Global, to advance the digitalisation of its recycling and recovery activities on mainland Europe.

The partnership was announced following Suez acquisition of a stake in Rubicon after it led the company’s latest funding round, which raised more than $50 million (€47m).

Rubicon uses its software to connect waste collectors to waste producers, enabling dispatchers to see which of their vehicles is making the most pickups while letting the clients to see how much residual waste and recycling they are creating and how often they need to use the service.

The company was established by 36-year-old Nate Morris in Kentucky in 2008 and last year was awarded its first municipal contract in Atlanta, after building a network of 5,000 collection businesses, with input from informal taxi service Uber’s founding chief technical officer Oscar Salazar.

In a statement, Suez said that it sought the partnership as part of its strategy to apply digital and data solutions for challenges to sustainable waste management practices and to provide new digital services.

The partnership will see collaboration on technology and data, moving forward with the development and deployment of Rubicon’s range of mobile apps, customer portal and cloud-based hauler management system on the European and US markets.

Morris, founder, chairman and CEO of Rubicon Global, added: “This is a new day for the global waste and recycling industry and an extraordinary opportunity to change the world.

“Waste is an issue that affects every single person living on the planet. Through technology and innovation, we can make it less expensive and more responsible, and this partnership with Suez will help us do just that.”