Resynergi to move out of California

Resynergi, a Rohnert Park, California-based company developing a modular chemical recycling technology for hard-to-recycle plastics, has announced plans to move its operations out of California to a new out-of-state location to scale its technology.

The company has not disclosed the new location, but says the move marks the next phase in its growth strategy.

“The innovative spirit of California has been a critical foundation for Resynergi’s journey,” CEO Brian Bauer says. “Our time in Sonoma County allowed us to develop, refine and validate our technology. We are deeply grateful to Sonoma County, SOMO Village and our local partners for their support during our critical R&D phase.”

The company says its decision to move is based on several factors that will enable it to scale “responsibly and efficiently.” Those factors include:

• Regulatory environment. Resynergi says the new location will offer a more streamlined path for permitting advanced recycling and energy technology projects.
• Economic incentives. The company claims the new location will provide targeted tax and economic development incentives for clean climate technology companies, supporting sustainable growth.
• Community fit. The new site will be in an industrially zoned area where the company’s operations will “make it a model for advanced manufacturing,” it says.
• Scale. Resynergi says the new location will provide the scale and infrastructure needed to keep pace with the urgent and growing demand for plastics recycling.

Resynergi has been developing a modular accelerated microwave pyrolysis (AMP) technology to convert plastic scrap into oil, which then could be used to make new plastic products. The company claims its modules, supplied in partnership with Lummus Technology, feature a modular design that allows for rapid scaling, enabling material recovery facilities (MRFs) and businesses to efficiently process up to 50 tons of plastic scrap per day.

Resynergi is awaiting approval on an air quality permit for its processing facility in Rohnert Park and says its AMP technology earned regulatory confidence from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and Rohnert Park city officials, with staff “confirming readiness to permit.”

The Rohnert Park facility was to have the capacity to process five tons of plastic per day, and Resynergi has said it aims to expand to more plants across the United States. The company says it remains committed to the communities where it operates and will maintain ongoing relationships with its partners and stakeholders in California.

“This transition is about growth and opportunity,” Bauer says. “It positions Resynergi to expand responsibly while diverting plastic waste from our landfills and oceans and converting it back into its molecular building blocks for reuse with our uniquely modular, safe and compliant technology. We’re committed to meet the outsized demand for sustainably, circular plastic resin and advance our mission to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.”

The Rohnert Park site, considered a demonstration-scale facility, is located on the 200-acre SOMO Village campus, near a residential area and a high school. In recent months, it had drawn concern from nearby residents and environmental groups who, according to news reports, raised questions about the plant potentially affecting air and soil quality, with some calling for the project to be revoked entirely.

According to a report from the Santa Rosa, California-based Press Democrat, Resynergi still intends to follow through on its bid for permits in Rohnert Park, though that could change in the coming weeks.

In February, the company announced the raise of $18 million in Series B extension funding led by Taranis, the investment and asset management company of Perenco Group. At the time, Resynergi said the funding would allow it to commission its planned commercial-scale site in Rohnert Park.