The acquisition will enable EFS-plastics to manufacture finished products with high levels of postconsumer recycled plastic.
EFS-plastics Inc., a postconsumer plastic recycler based in Listowel, Ontario, has acquired Ontario-based Exi-Plast Custom Moulding, a plastic manufacturer with a focus on custom blow molding services. EFS-plastics focuses on producing high-quality postconsumer polyethylene and polypropylene resin from household collected recyclables.
According to EFS-plastics, the acquisition will increase the market strength and stability of both organizations, which provide more than 110 jobs in Huron and Perth Counties, Ontario. EFS-plastics says both companies will continue to operate under their organizational structures and will build on their existing base of suppliers and customers.
EFS-plastics President and CEO Martin Vogt says the companies will operate as "separate business units, retaining their organizational structures." He adds, "Through its joint venture partnership with Inteplast Group, EFS-plastics looks forward to supporting Exi-Plast as it grows its business."
Joint venture partner Inteplast Group is based in Livingston, New Jersey.
EFS-plastics did not disclose any additional terms of the transaction.
“Having worked closely with EFS as a supplier since 2016, it felt natural for Exi-Plast to join the EFS group of companies,” says Exi-Plast President Jeffrey Lang. “With EFS’ backing, we are looking forward to increasing our production capacity and upgrading equipment over the next several months.”
EFS-plastics reports that the acquisition fits into its mission to reduce plastic waste by replacing the use of virgin plastic with high-quality, low-carbon recycled plastic. By purchasing Exi-Plast, EFS can manufacture finished products with high levels of postconsumer recycled plastic for its consumers.
“Our investment in Exi-Plast will increase our ability to serve customers looking to improve their environmental footprint,” Vogt says. “As we closely watch action being taken by both the federal government and the private sector, we see the increasing demand for recycled content as a lasting trend."
The initiative will equip city dumpsters with cameras that measure how much and what types of waste are present.
The city of Miami has announced a new partnership with Compology, a sustainable waste metering company based in San Francisco, to help better manage its waste. The initiative will equip the city with cameras to take photos of the inside of dumpsters to measure how much and what types of waste are present.
According to a news release from Compology, the effort will modernize Miami’s recycling infrastructure while reducing waste collection costs by a projected 30 to 40 percent. The cameras will be installed in city dumpsters at municipal buildings, police and fire stations and parks.
“Compology’s technology reduces the number of miles garbage trucks need to drive and helps improve the amount of material that can be recycled, keeping it out of landfills,” says Ken Russel, the commissioner of Miami. “By modernizing our waste collection processes, we can reduce the city’s environmental footprint while also saving taxpayers’ dollars. It's a win-win.”
According to a news release from Compology, the company says it has helped increase recycling rates, lower carbon emissions and reduce operating costs for various companies internationally. Compology says its smart cameras use artificial intelligence that identifies contamination in recycling streams before collection to deliver tailored recycling education and data that enables proper recycling practices and more waste diversion from landfills to improve recycling rates.
The city says it will reduce CO2 emissions, traffic congestion, noise pollution and illegal dumping by adding Compology's waste metering technology. It will also improve code compliance and enhance urban beautification efforts.
According to Compology, data from this initial deployment will be the foundation for designing a waste metering program for all municipal buildings and private businesses in Miami.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez previously announced the city’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent citywide and for Miami to become carbon neutral by 2050. “I am proud to work with Commissioner Russell and partners like Compology and Waste Management Inc. in implementing commonsense sustainability measures that will help us reach our ambitious goal to be one of the most climate-friendly cities in the world,” Suarez says
The merger will help Heritage Group’s development of a comprehensive recycling and reuse battery management platform.
The Heritage Group, an Indianapolis-based firm that manages a portfolio of companies specializing in heavy construction and materials, environmental services and specialty chemicals, has announced the merging of Heritage Battery Recycling, its battery management and recycling business, with Retriev Technologies, a lithium-ion battery processor in Anaheim, California.
According to a press release from Heritage, the merger with Retriev is part of Heritage’s expansion to develop comprehensive recycling and reuse battery management platform. KBI, a battery recycling and management company in Southern California, will continue to serve as an active equity partner in Retriev.
Retriev’s North American operations provide a platform for the launch of this partnership, with battery recycling and sorting facilities located in Lancaster, Ohio; Baltimore, Ohio; and Trail, British Columbia.
Also included in the transaction is KBI’s xEV Strategies division. Located in Brea, California, xEV Strategies is a specialized testing, refurbishment, warehousing and logistics platform for large-format electric vehicle batteries.
“We’re pleased to partner with Heritage to expand the reach and capabilities of Retriev,” says Steve Kinsbursky, chairman and CEO of Retriev and president and CEO of KBI. “Our mission to bring a sustainable model of closed-loop recycling for critical materials that are necessary for the North American supply chain is one step closer to a reality with this merger.”
Moving forward, Heritage Battery Recycling will operate under the Retriev Technologies brand. Shane Thompson will serve as president of the combined company.
“Based on my 20-year career in battery recycling, no other company is better suited for success in this industry,” Thompson says. “The combined knowledge and experience in battery recycling and reuse, collection and transportation, safety and environmental compliance serves as an unmatched platform to responsibly support the rapidly growing battery space. We have comprehensive plans to continue to invest in and grow the company's product suite and capabilities.”
The company has advanced several chemical recycling agreements in the U.S. and Europe.
Dow, Midland, Michigan, has announced several advancements in its efforts to prevent plastic waste, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide customers with recycled plastic products. The company says these advancements will help it to provide initial supply of fully circular polymers to customers starting in 2022.
According to the company, Dow and Fuenix Ecogy Group are expanding their agreement to scale circular plastics production through advanced recycling with the construction of a second plant in Weert, the Netherlands. Dow reports that the new plant will process 20,000 metric tons of plastics into pyrolysis oil feedstock that can be used to produce new circular plastic at Dow’s Terneuzen site in the Netherlands.
Dow reports that it has finalized an agreement with Gunvor Petroleum Rotterdam to purify pyrolysis oil feedstocks derived from plastic scrap. Gunvor will supply cracker-ready feedstock to Dow beginning this year, which will be used to produce circular plastics for customers. Dow says the purification process is necessary to ensure pyrolysis oil feedstocks are of sufficient quality to produce new polymers. The company reports it also is fast-tracking the design, engineering and construction of a market development scale purification unit in Terneuzen, the Netherlands, to provide additional capacity to purify pyrolysis oil feedstock derived from plastic scrap.
Additionally, Dow has established a multiyear agreement with New Hope Energy in Tyler, Texas, to supply it with pyrolysis oil feedstocks derived from plastics recycled in North America. New Hope Energy converts used plastics into pyrolysis oil feedstock, which Dow will use to produce circular plastics.
The company also is on track to receive International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) for each of its major European and U.S. sites. The company says this certification requires an independent, external audit to ensure product supply chains are fully traceable and that Dow and its suppliers are adhering to and accelerating sustainable practices.
“The market is placing significant value on circularity and Dow is innovating to address the tremendous unmet demand for circular and low carbon polymers,” says Diego Donoso, president of Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics. “As the leading materials science company, Dow is offering our customers what they need today and helping them develop more sustainable products, including 100 percent recyclable solutions or adding recycled or bio-based content into their products.”
Media group says pandemic hurdles remain and it looks forward to bringing back the Paper & Plastics Recycling Conference Europe in 2022.
The Recycling Today Media Group has made the regretful decision to cancel the 2021 Paper & Plastics Recycling Conference Europe, which was scheduled to take place at the Rotterdam Hilton Nov. 16-17.
While the industry is eager to meet in person, it became clear that the combination of ensuring the personal health and safety of our delegates, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors combined with governmental and corporate travel restrictions made it impractical to host an event that delivers the networking and content value expected.
The Paper & Plastics Recycling Conference Europe has been held every year since 2005, except in 2020 and this year, when COVID-19 health and safety concerns and related restrictions have combined to make the event impractical.
Keefe cites the ongoing imposition of corporate travel restrictions and increased concern about the spread of the COVID-19 delta variant, which he says, “creates a situation where we know attendance will be significantly affected.”
Regular delegates to and sponsors of the European event are invited to check the website for updates or reach out directly to the Recycling Today Media Group conference team at conference@gie.net with questions and suggestions for the 2022 event.