With the new investment in mechanical recycling technology, the firm will be able to produce up to 28 million pounds of recycled material annually, made with post-consumer or post-industrial recycled content
Novolex announces investment of $10m to expand capacity at recycling facility in North Vernon, Ind. (Credit: PRNewswire/ Novolex)
Packaging company Novolex has announced an investment of $10m to expand the capacity to recycle plastic bags and other polyethylene films at its recycling facility in North Vernon, Indiana.
With the new investment in mechanical recycling technology, the firm will be able to produce up to 28 million pounds of recycled material annually, made with post-consumer or post-industrial recycled content.
According to the firm, the Indiana recycling facility is one of the company’s two world-class film recycling facilities.
Novolex chairman and CEO Stan Bikulege said: “Our added recycling capacity in Indiana reflects the Novolex commitment to support the circular economy.
“The technology will reduce waste and provide much-needed recycled content that we will be able to use in our products.
“The expansion will create jobs for the community and enable us to develop innovative packaging solutions for our customers – a win for everyone.”
As additional equipment is gradually installed, the expanded operations will start to operate in the fourth quarter of this year and will be fully operational by the end of 2023.
Once the project is fully operational, the project is expected to provide 14 additional jobs for the community.
The new machinery will recognise and classify a variety of incoming materials, including plastic bags, pallet wrap, agricultural film, and more, allowing for crucial flexibility in the spectrum of potential incoming feedstocks.
When operating at full capacity, the factory will use up to 40 million pounds of polyethylene trash annually that would have otherwise gone to landfills, said the company.