Plastics Recycling Update highlights the latest announcements from industry companies and organizations. For information on submitting press releases or contributing op-eds to us, review our FAQ page.

February 2021

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) announced that Plastic Energy has joined ACC’s Advanced Recycling Alliance for Plastics (ARAP). ARAP members also elected Catherine Keenan of Agilyx as the organization’s chairperson. Dow and Indian recycling fim Lucro Plastecycle announced they will develop and launch post-consumer PE resin made from plastic collected in India. ExxonMobil introduced a new Paxon HDPE grade, SP5504, which has various properties that allow more post-consumer material to be incorporated into the resin. Plastics Forming Enterprises (PFE), an independent testing and R&D company, announced Kristi Hansen as the company’s new president. Hansen has been involved in the development of PET recycling facilities around the world. Revolution acquired Jadcore, a Terre Haute, Ind.-based post-industrial plastics recycling company. Sonoco and The Kraft Heinz Company announced a project with U.K.-based chemical recycling firm Enval to process flexible packaging production scrap generated by the brand owners. Verra, a standards development organization, launched a plastic stewardship initiative that includes a Plastic Waste Reduction Standard. The initiative was in development for more than a year. Spanish plastics research institute AIMPLAS published research on a project that’s developing new methods of recycling artificial turf. BlackBridge Investments is celebrating 10 years in business and recently moved into a new headquarters in Wall, N.J. The Coca-Cola Company rolled out a 13.2-ounce bottle made from 100% recycled PET. The bottle was introduced in select U.S. markets for Coca-Cola trademark beverages. The EuCertPlast recycled-content certification announced that it now certifies half of the total plastics recycling capacity in the EU. Equipment supplier Krones joined the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, which carries various plastics recycling commitments. Equipment supplier Nordson appointed Jesus Crespo as vice president of the company’s Polymer Processing Systems division. PP recycling firm PureCycle Technologies named Tamsin Ettefagh as the company’s vice president of industry relations. Ettefagh previously held positions at Envision Plastics and KW Plastics. Researchers with RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia explored recycling disposable face masks into a feedstock for a road-making material. TerraCycle Regulated Waste launched a BulkPak Recycling Program, which collects hard-to-recycle materials, including personal protective equipment (PPE), coffee pods, lids and stirrers, on pallets. Vitacore Industries, a Canadian personal protective equipment (PPE) supplier, launched a single-use mask and respirator recycling program. The Foam Recycling Coalition issued a $22,000 grant to four nonprofit organizations in Greensboro, N.C. to help buy a densifier, allowing the groups to open a foam packaging drop-off location. The Foundation for Plastic Recycling, an arm of the Association of Plastic Recyclers, launched a Buy Recycled initiative. Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS) launched a global recycled plastic supply tracking tool. International Recycling Group announced it has an agreement to buy 25 acres in Erie, Pa. for a plastics sorting plant, which has been dubbed a ‘SuperPRF.’ MAAG Group will supply Royal DSM with several pelletizing lines for a plastics compounding plant in Evansville, Ind. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory released benchmarking data on plastics production, providing a baseline level to measure how recycling and bio-based plastics use will impact energy and greenhouse gas emissions. RecyClass, which evaluates recyclability of packaging, approved three laminated tubes developed by Finland-headquartered Huhtamaki to be included in the RecyClass certification program.   Shell Canada will invest in a waste-to-fuel plant using Enerkem technology in Varennes, Québec.

TRENTON, N.J.—As companies move into 2021 and set new corporate goals for the year and beyond, the question on the lips of environmentally aware executives is, “How do you set sustainability goals that benefit the health and future of both the business and its customers without breaking the bank?” To help establish, implement, and meet these new sustainability targets—all within the corporate budget, TerraCycle Regulated Waste (TCRW), a commercial recycling solution provider that specializes in the collection and repurposing of complex regulated waste streams, has announced the new BulkPak Recycling Program. This new system allows companies the freedom of bulk freight recycling, with the convenience and affordability of the return-by-mail EasyPak service. Designed as an all-in-one, mixed pallet solution for numerous regulated waste streams. Customers simply select the EasyPak box assortment that best suits their needs and TCRW places all the required supplies on a pallet and ships it. Within seventy-two hours of ordering companies can provide a fully compliant regulated waste recycling program that allows for simple set-up, collection and storage. When full simply contact TCRW for fast, convenient pick-up. The following BulkPak Programs are now available:

• Universal Waste Program BulkPak—Designed for customers who want a fully compliant universal waste program. The pallet contains a starter kit with supplies along with prepaid freight shipping for a wide range of universal waste items including e-waste, fluorescent lights, batteries, and more.
• Lighting Retrofit Project BulkPak—Designed with busy contractors or facility managers in mind, this package offers a convenient solution for recycling lighting waste generated during LED conversion projects.
• Property Management BulkPak—Best suited for facilities with a goal of being “Waste Free.” This package offers recycling solutions for typically unrecyclable items that cannot be processed by municipal recycling centers, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) waste, coffee pods, cups, lids and stirrers, etc.
• BulkPak for Safety—Perfect for any business operating during the COVID-19 pandemic and looking for a recycling solution for PPE waste. Items collected include protective gloves, masks, and safety equipment.

“The new BulkPak Recycling program is a great opportunity for businesses to start 2021 on the right foot,” said Kevin Flynn, Global Vice President of TerraCycle Operations and Director of TerraCycle Regulated Waste. “Designed to meet and exceed the needs of busy managers and business owners, BulkPak gives them the power to implement a customized and streamlined recycling program so they can meet their sustainability goals without any of the high costs or headaches.” TerraCycle Regulated Waste created the EasyPak and BulkPak programs to help businesses facilitate the effective and compliant management of regulated, universal, and hazardous waste. All EasyPak boxes are UN-compliant and are sealed while in transit, limiting any possibility of contamination. Additionally, for added convenience, the EasyPak containers are available for purchase through a reorder subscription program ensuring that property managers are never left without a solution to their universal waste. To learn about TerraCycle Regulated Waste, visit www.lamprecycling.com.