Republic Services and Blue Polymers have broken ground in Indianapolis on a plastics recycling complex that will house a Republic Services polymer centre and a Blue Polymers advanced polymer production facility to supply recycled materials for use in sustainable packaging and other applications. Both facilities are expected to open in late 2024.
Republic Services is developing a network of polymer centres paired with Blue Polymers production facilities to create recycled resins for consumer packaging and other applications.
"Through our polymer centre network and Blue Polymers partnership, we're helping customers achieve their ambitious recycled content goals by producing high-quality recycled plastics," said Pete Keller, Republic Services vice president of recycling and sustainability.
"We are grateful that Republic Services and Blue Polymers chose Indiana for such an innovative recycling complex, and as a state, we are well-positioned to set them up for success and growth well into the future," said Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg.
The first polymer center is opening in Las Vegas later in 2023; the Indianapolis site will be the second polymer centre.
Demand is increasing for high-quality, U.S.-sourced recycled plastic as more companies commit to using recycled content in packaging. The polymer centre and Blue Polymers facilities will support true package-to-package circularity, allowing, for example, an orange detergent jug to be recycled into a new orange detergent jug.
The Indianapolis recycling complex will include two buildings totalling approximately 286,000 square feet and create an estimated 125 jobs. Republic Services and Blue Polymers selected Lauth Group, Inc. for the development and construction of the project.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC) committed up to $2 million in incentive-based tax credits and up to $100,000 in workforce-training grants to Republic Services. The IEDC will also commit up to $4 million in Hoosier Business Investment tax credits, which are designed to help companies invest in smart manufacturing and new technologies.
