PureCycle Joins Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council

The Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC) is pleased to welcome PureCycle Technologies, a publicly-traded advanced recycling company, as its newest member. PureCycle uses proprietary technology to separate contaminants, odors, and colors from polypropylene (designated as No. 5 plastic) waste and transform it into ultra-pure recycled plastic. PureCycle will work to support HPRC efforts by offering a solution for hard to recycle polypropylene materials commonly found in healthcare.

“We are very excited to welcome PureCycle as a member of HPRC,” said Peylina Chu, Director of HPRC. “They are at the forefront of recycling technology and will be a great addition to HPRC as we seek to increase recycling and achieve circularity of healthcare plastics.”

PureCycle’s mission is to tackle the plastic waste crisis by making No. 5 plastic recycling a common practice. Through their unique purification process, PureCycle can effectively recycle No. 5 plastic waste while maintaining the value and quality of the original material. 

“PureCycle believes that collaboration and partnerships are key to success,” shared Ron Rau, Director of Procurement at PureCycle. “The plastic waste problem must be approached with different perspectives, but with the same goal in mind. We are excited to collaborate with the leaders in the healthcare and recycling industries to facilitate change.”

“During the COVID-19 pandemic we have seen first-hand the impacts that medical plastic waste can have on our environment,” said Tamsin Ettefagh, Chief Sustainability Officer, PureCycle. “No. 5 plastic is one of the most common materials found in healthcare yet is a challenge to recycle so it ends up flowing into our oceans, waterways, and buried in landfills. We are excited to be a part of HPRC so we can implement the PureCycle solution to the healthcare plastic waste problem. “

PureCycle’s flagship facility in Ironton, Ohio is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. The facility will have the capacity to produce approximately 105 million pounds of ultra-pure recycled plastic annually. The company’s second facility will be built in Augusta, Georgia and is expected to break ground in March 2022. 

HPRC is currently engaged in multiple initiatives aimed at enabling recycling of healthcare plastics, including pilot studies using advanced recycling technologies to recycle mixed stream healthcare plastics, a study of reverse logistics processes for collecting, segregating, and preparing healthcare plastic waste for transport, and focused outreach and engagement with recyclers.

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