Association of Plastic Recyclers acquires Resource Recycling Inc.

The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), an international trade association based in Washington, has completed the acquisition of Portland, Oregon-based Resource Recycling, Inc., a publishing and conference management firm that began nearly 40 years ago as a print magazine. The sale of the company closed March 1.

Under APR’s ownership, Resource Recycling’s editorial staff will continue to publish all three publications: Resource Recycling magazine, Plastics Recycling Update and E-Scrap News, as well as produce three annual events: Resource Recycling Conference and Trade Show, E-Scrap Conference and Trade Show and Plastics Recycling Conference and Trade Show, which is expecting 2,000 attendees in 2019 when it is held next week outside of Washington.

“There is no intent in APR interfering with editorial content or the direction of Resource Recycling going forward,” APR’s President and CEO Steve Alexander says. “We don’t intend on making this an APR publication. We want to make sure they continue to operate as they always have.”

Alexander sees the acquisition as an opportunity to expand APR's footprint in the recycling industry, as well as "expand, collaborate and grow" the publishing firm in what he calls a critical time in the recycling industry.

“We hope this will provide additional resources for the key needs of the plastics recycling industry,” he says. “We’re looking forward to growing and expanding this company. We think there’s a need now more than ever for groups and publications that really address the needs of the industry and tell the true narrative of the industry. We look forward to be a part of the people that tell the story.”

He also notes the business relationship between APR and Resource Recycling extends beyond 10 years.

“We’ve partnered with them on the Plastics Recycling Conference, helped secure exhibitors and put panels together,” Alexander says. “We’ve been sponsors of the Resource Recycling Conference and held panels, so this isn’t new for us.”

Resource Recycling’s editorial and conference stall will work independently from APR and will continue to receive input from APR and its members on key plastics recycling trends and issues as usual.

“Our team will remain at the Portland office, and we plan to maintain our important relationships with groups and companies across the recycling industry,” says Dan Leif, managing editor of Resource Recycling Inc. “Further, we have every intention of continuing to produce the objective, high-quality news stories and conference events that are critical to a healthy and well-informed recycling sector. We look forward to working with APR, as we have in the past, while protecting and maintaining our independent industry perspective.”

Jerry Powell and his wife, Judy Roumpf, founded Resource Recycling and expanded the company into the conference arena in 2003. Powell, who will remain as a consultant to the company, is transitioning into retirement.