PolyWrap ramps up film recycling efforts

PolyWrap Recycling Inc., Sheboygan, Wisconsin, has issued a statement saying, “The numbers are in: Plastic film isn’t going anywhere,” and pledging to continue its efforts to collect greater volumes of recyclable plastic films.

The company, which introduced its Rack’n Pak film collection system in August, says a recent report from Ireland-based Grand View Research pegged the annual growth rate for shrink and stretch films as expected to be 5.4 percent by 2030.

“The reality is businesses in various industries are embracing the possibilities that plastic film offers related to their overall growth in distribution, storage and packaging,” says Jim Theodoroff, president and co-owner of PolyWrap.

The company was co-founded by Theodoroff in 2014 to create a system designed to simplify how low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic film is collected and recycled, says the firm.

Theodoroff acknowledges a segment of the population has been working toward reducing the reliance of the consumer products industry on plastic. “Although we’d like to see a downward trend in the use of plastics, the good news side of this is that this material is easily recyclable and, when done properly, can add  revenue stream for any company, big or small," he says.

PolyWrap says, in many applications, plastic film remains inexpensive, has a long shelf life and helps compresses and secure items on a pallet for safer shipping.

The recycling firm says it works with numerous consumer products makers and distributors who continue to rely on film to collect as much of it for recycling as possible.

“Beverage companies such as Reyes Beverage Group, Great Lakes Coca Cola, Reyes Coca Cola Bottling as well as many others, and food distribution companies such as U.S. Foods and Sysco and others have seen the amount of stretch film being collected for recycling increase in the last 10 years, with projections showing a continual steady increase of the next 10 years,” PolyWrap says.

Those companies, according to PolyWrap, all have locations currently using the Rack’n Pak Recycle Bagging System to improve the efficiency of collecting and baling the material, while maximizing the material’s value.”

“With proper collection and recycling of shrink and stretch films, companies can partner with businesses from all over the world, which can have more of a global economic impact,” adds Polywrap.

“With the projected increase in use, it’s vital to implement an easy and efficient way to recycle stretch and shrink films,” says Jeff Haen, vice president and co-owner of PolyWrap Recycling.

“Bulky, Gaylord boxes have typically been used to collect plastic films,” continues Haen. “This method wastes valuable time, energy, space and money. Efficiencies are needed, as recycling isn’t just about sustainability, it’s a way for businesses to grow and prosper, too.”

The message from PolyWrap is that plastic film use isn’t going to disappear, but as the use of plastic film continues to grow, so should the collection and recycling of it. “Recycling these and other materials needs to become ingrained within our companies and our processes,” Haen says. “Not only will this benefit our planet, it’s also an area of economic opportunity.”