Ohio lands plastic recycling project

The PTTGC America (GCA) business unit of Thailand-based PTT Global Chemical Public Co. Ltd. (GC) has agreed to locate a plastic recycling facility in central Ohio.

GCA says it has signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding (MOU) to locate what it calls “a new recycling complex” in a business park operated by the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO), based in Grove City, near Columbus.

GC, which describes itself as Thailand’s largest integrated petrochemical and refining business, says it plans to construct and operate a manufacturing plant of recycled plastics in Grove City with a final investment decision to be made by the end of this year.

GCA also has signed a separate MOU with Cincinnati-based waste and recycling firm Rumpke regarding scrap feedstock for the facility.

“Aligned with the Paris Agreement, GC Group aims to reduce current CO₂ emissions by 20 percent by 2030 on our journey toward achieving net zero by 2050,” GCA CEO Panod Awaiwanond says. “This project illustrates our commitment to fight climate change and contribute to a circular economy. It also reaffirms our commitment to the United States and the state of Ohio.”

GCA describes the complex as an enclosed operation that will make recycled polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into products. The facility will be located in SWACO’s Green Economy Business Park, which is being developed to use research, technology and manufacturing “to bring together the sustainable materials management supply chain.”

“We are pleased that PTTGCA has selected Ohio for their project,” says Joe Lombardi, SWACO executive director. “As SWACO continues to advance a more circular economy, we are constantly looking for ways in which materials from the local waste stream can be used to create economic development opportunities, supply sustainable businesses with materials and create new products for consumers.”

Rumpke Director of Recycling Jeff Snyder says, “As the leader in Ohio when it comes to recycling, we are always looking for new end users for our commodities. We are excited to have GC coming to the Midwest as this aligns nicely with our announcement of our new Resource Recycling plant in Columbus, Ohio, and the continued growth of recycling.”