GreenCentre Canada Launches Plastics Recycling Company

GreenCentre Canada, Kingston, Ontario, has launched a new plastics recycling company called Switchable Solutions Inc. (SSI), which will use what it calls a unique chemical-based technology to recover and recycle polystyrene, including expanded polystyrene and other types of post-consumer plastics into pellets. The pellets then can be used to make more packaging, as well as consumer products and other end materials.

According to Mark Badger, president and CEO of SSI, the first plant, expected to be open and operational in 12 months, will be designed to process around 2 million kilograms of plastic per year. The plant will be located in Mississauga, Ontario.

Badger adds that the company plans on adding two more systems fairly quickly after the first plastics recycling operation is built. The second plant is expected to handle around 10 million kilograms per year, while the third plant will be able to take in around 20 million kilograms per year.

Badger says that the ultimate goal over the next five years is to have a total of six facilities in operation throughout North America.

"Our company was launched in April, and already we have powerful slate of industry partners," says Badger. "We're currently in discussions with other potential strategic partners, which are capable of helping us to accelerate our plans."

According to Green Centre, Switchable Solutions will use a proprietary technology to convert plastics without the need of intensive distillation, typically required by conventional solvent systems. The process was developed by Philip Jessop, a chemistry researcher at Queen’s University.

"Dr. Jessop's technology was one of the first to be worked on at GreenCentre," says Rui Resendes, executive director of GreenCentre Canada. "It is gratifying, and a testament to GreenCentre's business model to see the considerable potential of this green solvent being realized."

Founding partners in SSI include Fielding Chemical, NexCycle Plastics Canada Inc., GreenCentre Canada and Stewardship Ontario. Badger notes that the first project, which will be a demonstration project, will open on Fielding Chemical’s property.

SSI's technology was developed and tested by GreenCentre Canada over the past two years, which provided SSI with strong momentum out of the gate, Badger notes. "The timely and strategic assistance of our partners puts us on track to quickly deliver significant economic and environmental benefits."

GreenCentre Canada is dedicated to developing environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional chemical and manufacturing products and practices. It is governed and operated with the assistance of industry members from across the chemical value chain.