The Recycling Partnership has announced nearly $2 million in catalytic grants to advance polypropylene recycling in the U.S. through its Polypropylene Recycling Coalition, a cross-industry collaboration.
In its initial round of funding, The Recycling Partnership's Polypropylene Recycling Coalition (Coalition) is providing four grants to Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) across the United States that will improve and increase sortation of polypropylene and support targeted consumer education efforts. Polypropylene, sometimes referred to as No. 5 plastic, is used in an array of food and non-food packaging. The coalition's investments will widen total nationwide acceptance of polypropylene in curbside recycling programs by approximately 1.7 percent to an additional four million people, resulting in the recovery of a larger supply of polypropylene that could be made into new products such as consumer packaging and automotive parts.
"Through the Polypropylene Recycling Coalition, we are rapidly driving meaningful, measurable change by awarding grants to four Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) that will improve and increase the capture of polypropylene. We encourage all companies that use polypropylene to join us and be part of the solution," said Keefe Harrison, CEO of The Recycling Partnership. "In just a few months, we've gathered companies across the value chain, launched the Coalition, and awarded grants. This collaborative work will support jobs, preserve natural resources, and help support the transition to a circular economy in the United States."
Grants are awarded to candidates not currently recycling polypropylene. With these strategic investments, polypropylene will now be accepted curbside in more communities, sent to established end markets, and community members in these areas will be educated as to what is and isn't accepted in curbside recycling.
The four grantees include:
- Cougles Recycling in Hamburg, Pennsylvania
- Mazza Recycling in Tinton Falls, New Jersey
- Rumpke Recycling in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Winters Brothers in Brookhaven, New York
