Republic Serv-ices, Inc. and Blue Polymers, LLC broke ground in Indianapolis, Indiana on the nation’s first innovative plastics recycling complex that will house a Republic Services Polymer Center and Blue Polymers advanced polymer production facility to advance plastics circularity and supply recycled materials for use in sustainable packaging and other applications. Both facilities are expected to open in late 2024.
Republic Services is developing a national network of Polymer Centers paired with Blue Polymers production facilities to create high quality, customized recycled resins for consumer packaging and other applications. This summer, Republic Services announced the Blue Polymers joint venture, which will further purify recycled plastics from Republic’s Polymer Centers.
“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,” said Pete Keller, Republic Services vice president of recycling and sustainability. “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.”
Republic Services’ 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 first Polymer Center is opening in Las Vegas, Nevada later this year; the Indianapolis site will be the second Polymer Center, which the company had previously identified as being in the Midwest.
The Indianapolis recycling complex will include two buildings totaling approximately 286,000 square feet and create an estimated 125 permanent, highly skilled local jobs.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC) 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 IEDC will also commit up to $4 million in Hoosier Business Investment tax credits, which are designed to help companies invest in smart manufacturing and new technologies.
