Phoenix announces partnership to convert Nos. 3-7 plastics into fuel

The Phoenix Public Works Department has announced a partnership with Renew Phoenix to turn Nos. 3-7 plastics into fuel. The partnership is the latest venture in the city's “Reimagine Phoenix" initiative to increase its waste diversion rate to 40 percent by the end of 2020 and ultimately reach zero waste by 2050.

“I believe in taking bold chances to make big change,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego says. “The idea of making fuel with the plastics we are throwing away is certainly an 'out of the box' idea that I am thrilled to say will also bring jobs and revenue to our city. During a time when cities are giving up on recycling, Phoenix is again leading the way in setting the gold standard for innovation and creativity.”

China used to be a popular destination for mixed plastics bales, but changes to the country’s scrap import policies have cut off that market. In some regions of the U.S., material recovery facility (MRF) operators have had difficulty marketing Nos. 3-7 bales as a result and have had to landfill these plastics.  

“The future is all about recycling, sustainability and doing our part to ensure future generations have a healthy planet," says Councilwoman Thelda Williams, who serves as the chair of the Water, Wastewater, Infrastructure and Sustainability (WWIS) Subcommittee. “I am certain that once others see what we are doing, they will want to be part of this movement to prevent more materials from being simply thrown away."

Renew Phoenix, a joint venture between Generated Materials Recovery, Phoenix, and Renewlogy, Salt Lake City, will build a facility to process the materials on the city's Resource Innovation Campus.

“I am excited for what this partnership brings to Phoenix," says Councilman Michael Nowakowski, whose district is home to the city's Resource Innovation Campus. “This new, innovative venture will encourage other businesses to bring next-generation technology to Phoenix to help us reach our diversion goal of 40 percent by 2020."

Renew Phoenix was selected through a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process. The company will use a proprietary chemical recycling process to reverse the plastics into their basic molecular structure, which will allow them to convert the plastics into fuel, according to a news release issued by the city of Phoenix. Renew Phoenix will bring as many as 15 full-time jobs to the valley, after investing more than $5 million into the project.

"Renewlogy is excited about bringing our technology to Phoenix and creating a more circular economy around plastic waste locally," says Priyanka Bakaya, founder and CEO of Renewlogy. “Phoenix will serve as a model for cities around the country looking for local solutions for plastic waste.”

At its Salt Lake City facility, Renewlogy processes bags of mixed plastics—including film, small form plastics, multilayer packaging and Nos. 4-6 plastics, which are typically not accepted in curbside recycling programs—that are collected through the Hefty Energy Bag Program in Boise, Idaho and Omaha, Nebraska.

The company also is embarking on a project sponsored by National Geographic that targets river plastics. Starting in India, focusing on the area around the Ganges, which the company says is estimated to contribute 1.2 billion pounds of plastic waste to the oceans each year, Renewlogy in helping to address plastic collection and conversion, providing compensation for local communities.

During the Plastics Recycling Conference and Trade Show March 11-13 in Harbor City, Maryland, Bakaya said the project in India would use reverse vending machines that issue coupons to local collectors, who are largely women. A scaled-down conversion system that is mobile and off the grid will be able to process 1 ton of the collected material daily, making diesel products.

Once Renew Phoenix is at full production, the project is expected to divert 10 tons per day of mixed plastics from landfill, which equates to 60 barrels of liquid fuel. Renew Phoenix will be able to scale production to allow regional processing, the city says.

“We are proud to continue bucking the trend and pushing forward with innovation, economic development and repurposing our waste," says Ginger Spencer, Phoenix Public Works Director. “We are committed to building a circular economy and achieving our Reimagine Phoenix goals. This new venture to turn plastics into fuel is eye-opening, and we hope it will serve as a model for other cities to reimagine their own recycling programs."