Recycling in the US: Republic Services relies on MetaPure

As consumer brands increase their demand for high-quality recycled plastic, and sustainability legislation becomes more of a reality, the need for recycled plastic in packaging has never been higher. The US-based company Republic Services is one of the national leaders in the environmental services and waste hauling business. And with help from Krones, Republic is looking to manage the entire plastics stream from curbside collection to final, consumer-ready recycled product.  The new Republic Services Polymer Center will be the first vertically integrated plastics recycling facility in the United States.

The Republic Services Polymer Center will have two separate lines: one dedicated to recovered PET and the other to olefins (polyethylene and polypropylene). When the site opens, around 65 percent of throughput will be PET, Keller noted, and 35 percent will be olefins. But the company’s long-term goal is to get that mix to 50-50. “The Polymer Center is the first step in Republic’s journey toward addressing plastics circularity. We plan two to three additional Polymer Centers across the country, and may look to partner with Krones for additional processing capabilities as the business grows and evolves,” says Pete Keller.

In supplying and installing turnkey sorting, sterilization and processing systems for Republic Services, Krones is helping an industry leader create a first-of-its kind facility. Once active, the Polymer Center will help close the loop in the circular economy…not only controlling the collection, cleaning and separation of used plastic materials, but then, in that very same facility, processing them into the high-quality sustainable product that the market demands. Jon LarsonHead of Plastics Technology Sales North America, Central America & Caribbean, Krones