International Recycling Group Awarded State RFAP Funds to Continue Development of Plastics Recycling Plant on Erie’s Eastside
ERIE, PA (December 16, 2022) — Governor Tom Wolf announced a $509,000 Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP) grant yesterday to International Recycling Group (IRG), a local company committed to tackling the global plastic waste crisis.
“The continued investment by state officials, including Governor Wolf continues to shine a momentous light on Erie’s eastside and the future of plastics recycling,” said Mitch Hecht, Founder and Chairman, IRG. “We are developing the next generation of industry right here in Erie — and the support from elected leadership continues to show us how essential our work is to our city and State in transforming the outdated plastic waste collection model.”
This RFAP award, which comes following a $5 million RACP grant will go directly towards constructing a rail siding to IRG’s new plastic recycling plant — located at the former Hammermill Paper site — which will be the home of what will become the country’s largest plastics recycling plant.
Pennsylvania has 65 operating railroads, which is more than any other state. PennDOT is committed to working with private rail operators and rail-served businesses to construct new rail lines and assist in maintaining and improving Pennsylvania’s roughly 5,600 miles of freight lines.
“These investments in Pennsylvania’s rail system create jobs, support efficient freight travel and help keep the business community connected to the global economy,” said Governor Wolf.
The country’s first SuperPRF™ (“PRF” = Plastics Recovery Facility) will revolutionize the recycling of plastics by accepting all forms of post-use plastics, including cups, lids, tubs, drink containers, food clamshells and other assorted single-use plastics from residential and commercial sources. Right now, almost two-thirds of the plastic Erie households generate are not accepted for curbside collection, which is the #1 impediment to the higher rates of recycling. IRG, with its sister company, newBin, promise to ensure not a pound of plastic goes into landfill or the environment.
To learn more about IRG and join the #RecyclingRevolution, visit https://www.InternationalRecycling.com/.
About International Recycling Group (IRG)
International Recycling Group (IRG) is designing the country’s largest plastics recycling plant to process all types and grades of plastic scrap. In the United States, according to EPA estimates, less than 9% of all plastics that enter the municipal solid waste ("MSW") stream are recycled. Combined with plastic scrap generated by industrial and commercial industries, we estimate that over 50 million tons annually of plastic scrap are destined for landfills. Plastic scrap has considerable potential to be repurposed and IRG plans to efficiently utilize this untapped resource. Located on the US Great Lakes, IRG’s new “SuperPRF” will be able to accept ALL types of plastic—not just bottles (the “#1s and #2s”). Thus, “single streaming,” or combining all plastics into a recycling bin or cart for pickup, will now be economically viable.