CalRecycle awards grants to boost plastic, glass recycling efforts

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), through its Recycled Fiber, Plastic and Glass Grant Program, has awarded more than $11 million to five companies to increase the state’s recycling infrastructure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The businesses are expected to create 68 jobs and use nearly 23,000 tons of recycled material per year to manufacture new products.

The program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment—particularly in disadvantaged communities.

Scott Smithline, CalRecycle director, says, “Long-term sustainability depends upon our ability to close the loop in California and turn our waste stream into a supply stream for local businesses. Not only are these projects a great way to repurpose recyclable material and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they also help diversify our local economies.”

CalRecycle received 14 eligible applications requesting $32.9 million in funding. Awards were granted to the five highest-scoring applicants based on criteria that included greenhouse gas reductions and materials diverted from landfills:

• Envision Plastics, San Bernardino, will receive $2.94 million to purchase and install new equipment to produce high-density polyethylene (HDPE) flake using 3,480 tons per year of recycled containers and agricultural film. The resulting feedstock will be used to manufacture new goods and products in California.
• FDS Manufacturing, Pomona, has been approved to receive $2.96 million to acquire new equipment to process and pelletize an additional 2,000 tons per year of polypropylene (PP) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) for use in manufacturing bins, pallets, angle board and other commercial products.
• Netafim USA, Fresno, is receiving slightly more than $2 million to fund the expansion of its closed-loop recycling operation to collect, shred, wash and pelletize an additional 9,612 tons per year of used plastic farming irrigation tubing, remanufacturing the HDPE pellets into new irrigation tubing.
• Roplast Industries, Oroville, is receiving about $2.5 million to acquire a new deinking system to recycle an additional 2,500 tons per year of otherwise landfilled LDPE for use in the production of new retail and reusable grocery bags.
• Shark Glass Recycling West LLC, San Bernardino, has been awarded $1.28 million to fund the creation of a new windshield and building glass recycling facility to separate glass from a resin interlayer on more than 5,300 tons per year of otherwise landfilled material. The resulting materials will be used to manufacture new fiberglass building insulation and carpet tiles.