Looking for Recycling Services Insurance?
Protect your recycling business from equipment damage, worker injuries, environmental liability, and property claims. Get coverage for recycling facilities, material recovery, and waste processing operations.
What is Recycling Services Insurance?
Recycling services insurance protects processing operations from equipment damage, worker injuries, environmental contamination, and liability claims. Coverage includes property insurance, pollution liability, equipment breakdown, and workers compensation. Municipalities, environmental agencies, and contracts require proof of insurance before processing agreements or permits.
Equipment and Facilities
Coverage for processing equipment, sorting machinery, and recycling facility assets.
Environmental Liability
Protects against contamination, pollution incidents, and hazardous material exposure.
Worker Safety
Workers compensation for employees in high-risk sorting and processing operations.
Certificates
Fast proof for municipalities, contracts, and environmental agencies.
Who Needs Recycling Services Insurance?
- Recycling Facilities : Businesses requiring specialized insurance coverage
- Material Recovery Operations : Businesses requiring specialized insurance coverage
- E-Waste Recyclers : Businesses requiring specialized insurance coverage
- Scrap Processing Companies : Businesses requiring specialized insurance coverage
Why Harper?
Recycling Industry Expertise
We understand recycling risks—equipment failures, contamination incidents, worker injuries, and fire hazards. Get coverage for single-stream, material-specific, or e-waste recycling operations.
Fast Proof for Contracts
Municipal recycling contracts require comprehensive insurance. We deliver certificates quickly for contract compliance.
Clear Simple Guidance
We explain pollution liability, equipment coverage, and recycling-specific requirements clearly.
Tailored to Your Operations
Match coverage to your recycling—single-stream, paper/cardboard, metals, plastics, electronics, or construction debris.
Frequently Asked Questions
What insurance do recycling businesses need?
Recycling operations need property insurance for facilities and expensive processing equipment like balers, shredders, and sorting systems, pollution liability for contamination from stored materials or processing operations, and equipment breakdown covering mechanical failures of critical machinery. Workers compensation is essential due to high injury rates in sorting and processing operations. General liability covers third-party injuries and property damage, while commercial auto protects collection and delivery vehicles, and business interruption coverage addresses revenue losses during equipment failures.
Is recycling insurance required?
Municipal recycling contracts require proof of general liability, pollution liability, and auto coverage before awarding collection or processing contracts. Environmental permits for recycling facilities require pollution liability coverage meeting state minimums. Property owners leasing facilities for recycling operations require property and liability insurance. Lenders financing equipment require comprehensive property and equipment breakdown coverage. State workers compensation is mandatory for employees in this high-hazard industry.
How much does recycling insurance cost?
Small recycling drop-off centers or mobile operations pay $8,000–$20,000 annually for basic coverage. Mid-sized material recovery facilities pay $25,000 to $100,000+ annually. Large recycling processing facilities with extensive equipment and high volumes pay $100,000 to $500,000+ annually. Costs depend on facility size, processing equipment values, material types handled (e-waste and hazardous materials cost more), employee count, revenue, fire suppression systems, claims history, and pollution liability limits.
Does insurance cover recycling facility fires?
Property insurance covers fire damage to recycling facilities, equipment, and stored materials, but recycling operations face significantly higher fire risk due to combustible materials and friction from processing equipment. Insurers typically require fire suppression systems, regular equipment cleaning to prevent dust buildup, hot work permits, and separation of incompatible materials. Facilities without adequate fire prevention measures may face coverage limitations, higher deductibles, or difficulty obtaining coverage altogether.
Does insurance cover contamination incidents?
Pollution liability covers cleanup costs and third-party damages from environmental contamination caused by stored recyclables, processing operations, or accidental releases of fluids from materials being processed. Coverage applies when proper material handling, storage, and spill prevention procedures are followed. Accepting prohibited materials, inadequate containment, or failing to address known contamination risks could result in coverage denial.
Can municipalities require specific insurance?
Yes, municipal recycling contracts specify detailed insurance requirements including minimum general liability (often $2-5 million), pollution liability, auto liability for collection vehicles, workers compensation, and adding the municipality as additional insured. Contracts often require proof that insurance covers recycling operations specifically, as some general business policies exclude or limit recycling activities. Annual certificate renewals and advance notice of coverage changes are standard contract requirements.