Republic Services and Ravago launch PCR product network for booming US demand

02 Aug 2023 --- Republic Services, a US waste recycling and disposal company, and Ravago, a polymer recycler and distributor, have partnered to create Blue Polymers, a network of facilities designed to produce 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) products to supply plastic manufacturers’ growing demand for environmentally sustainable solutions. 

The new facilities will utilize recycled PE and PP from Republic Services’ Polymer Centers to create high-quality, recycled resin for consumer packaging. The companies explain that the process will convert high-density PE and PP into fully formulated products for food-grade and non-food-grade packaging applications. 

“Companies today are setting aggressive recycled content goals, and Republic Services has a unique opportunity to meet the demand for high-quality recycled plastics through our Polymer Centers and now the creation of Blue Polymers,” asserts Jon Vander Ark, Republic Services’ president and chief executive officer. 

“Ravago’s leadership in plastics recycling and compounding makes them a natural partner as we take the next step in advancing plastics circularity.”

Four Blue Polymers facilities will open over the next four years, beginning in late 2024. The plants are expected to produce 300 million pounds (136 million kgs) of recycled plastics annually. 

PCR resins supply
The facilities’ products will include custom-blended and compounded materials for individual customers to help them achieve their environmental sustainability goals. The PCR products are furthermore said to comply with federal, state or local requirements for recycled content. 

Ravago will market and distribute a portion of recycled PET flakes from Republic’s Polymer Centers through its customer network. 

“Ravago is dedicated to investing and leading innovation in plastic recycling globally. Partnering with Republic Services in creating Blue Polymers to provide transparency in the PCR process is transformative,” says Jim Duffy, president and chief executive officer of Ravago Holdings America. 

“With Republic’s national collection and recycling center network and Polymer Centers, we will be able to provide consistent volumes of the highest-quality PCR resins to the market.”

Republic Services and Ravago offer distinctive and complementary expertise to help fulfill environmentally sustainable packaging demand. As a leader in the environmental services industry, Republic processed five million metric tons of recyclables. Ravago says it has “extensive” expertise in the distribution, resale, compounding and recycling of plastic materials and can efficiently deliver to customers at scale.

Edited by Natalie Schwertheim