Plastics

AmSty, Agilyx launch joint venture

The Woodlands, Texas-based AmSty and Tigard, Oregon-based Agilyx have formed a joint venture, Regenyx LLC, “dedicated to fully recycling postconsumer polystyrene materials back to new polystyrene products,” according to a news release.

Regenyx will use Agilyx’s chemical recycling process to convert used polystyrene (PS) products back to their original liquid styrene monomer. AmSty works with its supply chain partners to make new PS products with the styrene monomer “without any degradation of quality or value.” The companies call the circular recycling model the PolyUsable process.

Agilyx CEO Joe Vaillancourt says, “Our collaboration with AmSty brings together a complete system that will allow us to continually recycle polystyrene products back to polystyrene products. Agilyx has been driven for the last 15 years with a vision to end wasteful outcomes of postconsumer plastics, and we are very excited to be partnering with AmSty to help drive innovations that will give perpetual use to polystyrene.”

Regenyx assumes the assets of Agilyx’s Tigard facility, which can process 10 tons of PS per day and ships recycled styrene monomer to AmSty.

AmSty and Agilyx say they also will “work together to develop plans for a larger regional facility scaled to process 50 tons per day, currently envisioned for the West Coast.”

Brad Crocker, AmSty president and CEO, says, “Polystyrene products like foam cups, foam packaging and single-use items are uniquely suitable for conversion back to chemical building blocks that can be used to make new products over and over.” He adds, “This approach also holds great promise for other types of plastics as well.”