South African-based Myplas USA said recently it had opened a state-of-the-art plastics recycling facility to recycle flexible plastic film.
The plant in Rogers, Minnesota, near Minneapolis, will recycle material used in pallet wrap, shrink wrap, single-use shopping bags and some food packaging. Officials said the plant marks a milestone for a collaborative effort among leading global businesses to catalyze a regional circular economy for flexible films and packaging materials in the Upper Midwest.
“This is a very exciting day for Myplas as we open our U.S. headquarters and our first U.S. recycling facility in Minnesota,” said Andrew Pieterse, Myplas USA CEO, said “It’s been a remarkable journey to help bring this vision to life, and we are proud to bring our expertise to this ground-breaking initiative. The ongoing commitment of our partners has been vital to bringing us to this point. We are excited for what lies ahead.”
Officials said the plant will recycle nearly 90 million pounds of plastic waster per year at full capacity – enough to encircle the planet in pallet wrap more than 35 times. The company said it will employ nearly 200 people.
The facility was made possible through a $13 million joint equity investment by General Mills, Schwan’s Company, Charter Next Generation, Target and Ecolab, among others. Additional financial support was provided by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), Closed Loop Partners and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), which also provided support for workforce training and development through the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP).
“Reducing the impact of flexible packaging and film waste requires us to think innovatively and creatively,” Dimitrios Smyrnios, CEO of Schwan’s Company, said. “Schwan’s chose to invest in Myplas because we’re committed to reducing the environmental impact of our packaging, and we want to be a catalyst for other companies to do the same. It’s the right thing to do for our environment, our business and our region.”