Republic, Blue Polymers celebrate groundbreaking of polymers facility

Republic Services Inc. and Blue Polymers have broken ground in Indianapolis on a plastics recycling complex that will house a Republic Services Polymer Center and Blue Polymers advanced polymer production facility to increase plastics circularity and supply recycled materials for use in packaging and other applications.

Both facilities are expected to open in late 2024.

Republic has partnered with Luxembourg-based polymer recycling and distribution company Ravago to advance circularity in the plastics industry.

Through the partnership, Blue Polymers LLC, the companies are developing a network of facilities designed to produce 100 percent postconsumer recycled (PCR) resin to supply plastic manufacturers’ growing demand for sustainable solutions, they said in a statement earlier this year.

Phoenix-based Republic last year announced plans to construct four polymer centers across the U.S., with the first on track to open in Las Vegas this year. These sorting plants each will have a dedicated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) line and another for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP), processing plastics collected from Republic’s surrounding residential and commercial customers.

The new Blue Polymers network will be co-located with the Republic Polymer Centers, taking in recycled polyethylene (PE) and PP from those sites to create PCR resin for consumer packaging and other applications, converting HDPE and PP into fully formulated products for use in food- and nonfood-grade applications. Blue Polymers' product offerings also will include custom-blended and compounded materials for individual customers to help achieve sustainability goals and comply with federal, state or local requirements for recycled content, the companies say.

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“Through our Polymer Center network and Blue Polymers partnership, we’re helping customers achieve their ambitious recycled content goals by producing high-quality recycled plastics,” Republic Services Vice President of Recycling and Sustainability Pete Keller says. “As a leader in the environmental services industry and one of the nation’s largest recyclers, Republic Services is uniquely positioned to advance plastics circularity and the region’s circular economy while supporting Indianapolis’ vision for a more resilient future.” 

Indiana Secretary of Commerce says the state is “grateful” for the companies’ investments.

“As a state, we are well-positioned to set them up for success and growth well into the future,” Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg says. “This venture is another example of Republic’s commitment to sustainability and will boost quality of life in Central Indiana while creating high-quality career opportunities for Hoosiers.”

Republic Services says its Polymer Centers represent the first time a single U.S. company will manage the plastics stream through an integrated process from curbside collection of recycled material to production of high-quality recycled content for use in sustainable consumer packaging. The Indianapolis site will be the second Polymer Center, which the company previously identified as being in the Midwest.

“We couldn’t be more excited for Republic Services’ and Blue Polymers’ investments in the city of Indianapolis,” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett says. “The polymer center and Blue Polymers complex is a next-generation step for the plastics industry and the circular economy of Indiana. It also shows Republic’s leadership in sustainability and great commitment to the city of Indianapolis, our skilled workforce and the community as a whole.”

Demand is increasing for high-quality, domestically sourced recycled plastics as more companies commit to using recycled content in packaging. The polymer center and Blue Polymers facilities will support package-to-package circularity, allowing, for example, an orange detergent jug to be recycled into a new orange detergent jug, Republic says.

The Indianapolis recycling complex will include two buildings totaling approximately 286,000 square feet and create an estimated 125 permanent, highly skilled local jobs, according to the company. Republic Services and Blue Polymers selected Lauth Group Inc. for the development and construction of the project.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. has committed up to $2 million in incentive-based tax credits and up to $100,000 in workforce-training grants to Republic Services, based on the company’s investment and job creation plans. The organization also will commit up to $4 million in Hoosier Business Investment tax credits, which are designed to help companies invest in smart manufacturing and new technologies, according to a news release from Republic.