The new facility is designed to convert No. 5 plastic waste into a sustainable material that can be used to manufacture products such as yoghurt cups, plastic containers, cosmetics, and car accessories
The new facility in Augusta can convert No. 5 plastic waste into a sustainable material. (Credit: pasja1000 from Pixabay)
PureCycle Technologies is set to break ground on a new plastic waste purification facility in Augusta, Georgia that will allow the company to expand production capabilities of its ultra-pure recycled (UPR) resin.
Located in Augusta Corporate Park, the new plant represents PureCycle’s second plastic waste purification facility in the US.
It is designed to convert No. 5 plastic waste into a sustainable material that can be used to manufacture products such as yoghurt cups, plastic containers, cosmetics, and car accessories.
PureCycle’s new location can support up to eight purification lines that can produce about one billion pounds of like-new recycled plastic per year.
The company stated that initial construction works will commence immediately after the groundbreaking ceremony.
PureCycle CEO Mike Otworth said: “This is an exciting time for PureCycle as we expand our operations into the Southeast and bring our versatile, recycled plastic to the region.
“Our second facility, when completed, will transform No. 5 plastic waste – one of the most commonly used and least recycled plastics in the world – into an ultra-pure material that can be used to make consumer products, ultimately helping reduce our reliance on single-use plastics that contaminate our oceans and waterways.”
PureCycle’s announcement to build the new plant in Augusta follows the company’s $250m private equity capital raise, which is expected to support the construction of the Augusta facility.
The first two purification lines at the Augusta facility are expected to complete in the fourth quarter of 2023, with an annual production capacity of 260 million pounds of like-new recycling resin.
Augusta mayor Hardie Davis Jr. said: “PureCycle has learned what we already know here in Augusta; that we are a robust community perfectly positioned for access to the major sea- and airports with a skilled workforce that rivals any major city.
“We welcome PureCycle to the Garden City and look forward to not only adding jobs and growing our economy but advancing the overall mission to tackle plastic waste.
“By eliminating our culture of single-use plastic we can keep waste out of our oceans, waterways, and buried in landfills, and protect and preserve our communities for our children and future generations.”