In 2015, CM&B helped bring a bold vision to life in Peabody, MA: a state-of-the-art recycling facility designed to expand local capacity and advance environmental performance. Nearly a decade later, we’ve returned—partnering with Republic Services to reimagine the facility for the next generation of recycling technology.
A Look Back: The Original 2015 Build
When CM&B first delivered the 55,000-SF GreenWorks recycling center, it was a major investment for the City of Peabody—creating jobs, redeveloping an underutilized site, and introducing new processing capabilities north of Boston.
Key highlights from the original build included:
- A 60-foot-tall, clear-span structure tailored to industrial recycling operations
- A 185-foot clear-span roof supported by specially engineered steel joists
- An observation mezzanine designed for student and visitor education
- Specialized blasting and sitework to prepare the 4-acre property
The facility opened as the largest custom-designed recycling center north of Boston, capable of processing up to 30 tons per hour.
2025: Reimagining the Facility for the Future
Today, the building has a new owner—Republic Services—and a renewed mission. CM&B, alongside HFA, has completed a major design-build transformation that elevates the facility to meet modern recycling demands.
This full-scope upgrade includes:
- Decommissioning the original sorting system
- Top-to-bottom facility improvements, structural adjustments, and infrastructure upgrades
- Installation of a cutting-edge sorting system from Machine X (Canada)
- Extensive coordination required for this highly intricate and technical equipment install
To manage a system of this complexity, our team used advanced BIM technology to model, sequence, and coordinate every component—ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and seamless integration with the existing building.
This wasn’t just a renovation—it was a precision overhaul.
A Project That Comes Full Circle
Returning to a facility we built nearly ten years ago is both rare and rewarding. It’s a reminder that the best buildings are designed to evolve—and the best partnerships stand the test of time.
In 2015, we helped launch a new recycling hub for the region.
In 2025, we’ve helped transform it for the next decade and beyond.
CM&B is proud to partner with Republic Services on this next chapter—elevating a facility we’ve known since its earliest days into a modern, high-performing asset for the region’s recycling infrastructure.
