Houston-based WM and Midland, Michigan-based Dow Inc. say they are improving household recycling of plastic films by allowing consumers in certain markets to recycle these materials on their streets. We are launching a collaboration.
Combining WM’s broad reach as a comprehensive environmental solutions provider with Dow’s leadership in materials science, the companies will build a new infrastructure aimed at closing the existing recycling gap and increasing the availability of plastic materials in the United States. They say they are driving a circular value chain.
This initiative began with a pilot program in the Chicago community of Hickory Hills, Illinois. The program has reached about 3,500 households, according to the company, with more cities to follow across the country. Consumers in the program’s pilot cities will be able to recycle plastic film such as bread bags, plastic wrap and dry cleaning bags directly on the street.
According to a study conducted by The Recycling Partnership, Washington, only 1.9% of US households currently have access to curbside plastic film recycling. This is the plastic material with the lowest overall recycling rate. Once fully operational, WM expects the new program to divert more than 120,000 tons of plastic film from landfills annually.
WM President and CEO Jim Fish said, “By offering our home customers a simple curbside option to recycle their plastic film, we want to make it easier for them to manage their used plastic film products. It will not only meet the growing demand for recycled content products, but also meet the growing demand for recycled content products.” Say. “We recognize that in order to meet and exceed our sustainability goals, we must continue to expand our circularity solutions. Recycling and reusing plastic films has tremendous potential. We believe it is, which many residential customers struggle to dispose of properly.”
WM says it plans to invest more than $800 million by 2025 to improve and enhance its recycling infrastructure, including specialized technology that enables the company to sort plastic film. WM leads the collection and processing of film recycling pilots and continues to identify opportunities for film recycling across the United States.
WM says it expects film recycling to reach 8% of US homes by 2025.
In line with its latest Transform the Waste sustainability commitment to provide 3 million tons of circular and renewable solutions by 2030, Dow says it supports this initiative by incorporating recycled content into its product solutions. says. Advancing a circular ecosystem for hard-to-recycle plastics through materials science expertise, offtakes, cart donations, technology and circular investments.
Dow Chairman and CEO Jim Fitterling said: “Through our collaboration with WM, we are determined to launch a new program to expand recycling infrastructure and access nationwide, creating a more inclusive system in which films and flexible plastics form a key pillar of our circular product offering. doing.”
The companies said their partnership will build on their continued support for the broader recycling system across the United States. PCR — WM, an independent company, says it plans to produce an estimated 400 million pounds of PCR pellets annually over five years. Natura PCR offers circular solutions for commercially used films and clear plastic wraps such as plastic stretch wrap for pallets, furniture films, grocery bags and shrink wrap for food and beverage containers. is expected.
Dow says it will continue to expand its Revoloop PCR product line while increasing its circular ecosystem projects with WM. The companies say these projects will increase plastic recycling rates and create sustainable solutions in packaging, infrastructure and consumer applications.
“As an elected Hickory Hills civil servant and resident, I am honored that the City of Hickory Hills has been selected to participate in this new plastic film recycling program,” said Hickory Hills City Clerk D’Lorah Catizone. say. “The City of Hickory Hills is very excited to be part of this newest recycling initiative. I think it’s the best effort we’ve ever made.”
