PureCycle Technologies Inc., headquartered in Orlando, Florida, says it plans to open a plastic recycling prep facility in Winter Garden, Florida. The new facility will sort and process polypropylene (PP) and is expected to increase the amount of plastic that is recycled in the central Florida region.

According to a news release from PureCycle, the new facility will sort and grind PP to be transformed into PureCycle’s ultrapure recycled PP resin at is purification site in Ironton, Ohio, as well as the facility it’s constructing in Augusta, Georgia, with construction on that site set to begin in early 2022.

The company says it anticipates operations will be running by the second quarter of 2022. Additionally, the facility will accept primarily plastic materials that have been separated from other mixed materials at other recycling operations, such as material recovery facilities (MRFs). The company tells Recycling Today that it has active negotiations for 300 million pounds of feedstock.

The new PureCycle facility will sort through the different types of plastic to isolate and prepare PP scrap for the company's purification process.

PureCycle has developed a patented technology that removes contaminants and turns PP into ultrapure recycled PP. The company says this new facility will improve access for it to identify and secure regional PP needed as feedstock to make the company’s ultrapure recycled PP resin. The company says the plastic recycling prep facility in Florida is part of its community-focused plan of action to increase the amount of plastic that gets recycled curbside. The company tells Recycling Today it has plans for additional plastic recycling prep facilities in the future. 

“Less than 1 percent of polypropylene is recycled worldwide. Our expectation is that PureCycle’s prep facility will help bolster efforts to recycle more plastic waste in the region,” says Mike Otworth, CEO of PureCycle. “Having facilities that open up a door for the recycling of discarded plastic material will help us tackle the plastic waste crisis. PureCycle is changing the game when it comes to how communities view and use plastic with our first-of-its-kind purification process that transforms No. 5 plastic waste into an infinitely sustainable material.”

Orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson adds that PureCycle’s new facility will help the region to better recycle plastic to ensure it can be reused. “I’m thrilled this Orange County-based company is investing in their hometown and working to make us more sustainable.”  

EFS-plastics Inc., a postconsumer plastic recycler based in Listowel, Ontario, has acquired Ontario-based Exi-Plast Custom Moulding, a plastic manufacturer with a focus on custom blow molding services. EFS-plastics focuses on producing high-quality postconsumer polyethylene and polypropylene resin from household collected recyclables.

According to EFS-plastics, the acquisition will increase the market strength and stability of both organizations, which provide more than 110 jobs in Huron and Perth Counties, Ontario. EFS-plastics says both companies will continue to operate under their organizational structures and will build on their existing base of suppliers and customers. 

EFS-plastics President and CEO Martin Vogt says the companies will operate as "separate business units, retaining their organizational structures." He adds, "Through its joint venture partnership with Inteplast Group, EFS-plastics looks forward to supporting Exi-Plast as it grows its business."

Joint venture partner Inteplast Group is based in Livingston, New Jersey.

EFS-plastics did not disclose any additional terms of the transaction. 

“Having worked closely with EFS as a supplier since 2016, it felt natural for Exi-Plast to join the EFS group of companies,” says Exi-Plast President Jeffrey Lang. “With EFS’ backing, we are looking forward to increasing our production capacity and upgrading equipment over the next several months.”

EFS-plastics reports that the acquisition fits into its mission to reduce plastic waste by replacing the use of virgin plastic with high-quality, low-carbon recycled plastic. By purchasing Exi-Plast, EFS can manufacture finished products with high levels of postconsumer recycled plastic for its consumers.

“Our investment in Exi-Plast will increase our ability to serve customers looking to improve their environmental footprint,” Vogt says. “As we closely watch action being taken by both the federal government and the private sector, we see the increasing demand for recycled content as a lasting trend."

The city of Miami has announced a new partnership with Compology, a sustainable waste metering company based in San Francisco, to help better manage its waste. The initiative will equip the city with cameras to take photos of the inside of dumpsters to measure how much and what types of waste are present. 

According to a news release from Compology, the effort will modernize Miami’s recycling infrastructure while reducing waste collection costs by a projected 30 to 40 percent. The cameras will be installed in city dumpsters at municipal buildings, police and fire stations and parks. 

“Compology’s technology reduces the number of miles garbage trucks need to drive and helps improve the amount of material that can be recycled, keeping it out of landfills,” says Ken Russel, the commissioner of Miami. “By modernizing our waste collection processes, we can reduce the city’s environmental footprint while also saving taxpayers’ dollars. It's a win-win.”

According to a news release from Complogy, the company says it has helped increase recycling rates, lower carbon emissions and reduce operating costs for various companies internationally. Compology says its smart cameras use artificial intelligence that identifies contamination in recycling streams before collection to deliver tailored recycling education and data that enables proper recycling practices and more waste diversion from landfills to improve recycling rates.

The city says it will reduce CO2 emissions, traffic congestion, noise pollution and illegal dumping by adding Compology's waste metering technology. It will also improve code compliance and enhance urban beautification efforts.

According to Compology, data from this initial deployment will be the foundation for designing a waste metering program for all municipal buildings and private businesses in Miami.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez previously announced the city’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent citywide and for Miami to become carbon neutral by 2050. “I am proud to work with Commissioner Russell and partners like Compology and Waste Management Inc. in implementing commonsense sustainability measures that will help us reach our ambitious goal to be one of the most climate-friendly cities in the world,” Suarez says

The Heritage Group, an Indianapolis-based firm that manages a portfolio of companies specializing in heavy construction and materials, environmental services and specialty chemicals, has announced the merging of Heritage Battery Recycling, its battery management and recycling business, with Retriev Technologies, a lithium-ion battery processor in Anaheim, California. 

According to a press release from Heritage, the merger with Retriev is part of Heritage’s expansion to develop comprehensive recycling and reuse battery management platform. KBI, a battery recycling and management company in Southern California, will continue to serve as an active equity partner in Retriev. 

Retriev’s North American operations provide a platform for the launch of this partnership, with battery recycling and sorting facilities located in Lancaster, Ohio; Baltimore, Ohio; and Trail, British Columbia. 

Also included in the transaction is KBI’s xEV Strategies division. Located in Brea, California, xEV Strategies is a specialized testing, refurbishment, warehousing and logistics platform for large-format electric vehicle batteries.

“We’re pleased to partner with Heritage to expand the reach and capabilities of Retriev,” says Steve Kinsbursky, chairman and CEO of Retriev and president and CEO of KBI. “Our mission to bring a sustainable model of closed-loop recycling for critical materials that are necessary for the North American supply chain is one step closer to a reality with this merger.”

Moving forward, Heritage Battery Recycling will operate under the Retriev Technologies brand. Shane Thompson will serve as president of the combined company.

“Based on my 20-year career in battery recycling, no other company is better suited for success in this industry,” Thompson says. “The combined knowledge and experience in battery recycling and reuse, collection and transportation, safety and environmental compliance serves as an unmatched platform to responsibly support the rapidly growing battery space. We have comprehensive plans to continue to invest in and grow the company's product suite and capabilities.”