Rumpke Waste and Recycling has formed an alliance with Eastman Chemicals to recycle PET waste at their Kingsport, TN plant.  Rumpke will commence collecting opaque and colored PET packaging and containers in mid-2024 for recycling.  Eastman will convert “hard-to-recycle” PET into virgin quality polyester using the methanolysis process in a plant capable of recycling 110,000 metric tons annually.

Brad Lich, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for Eastman, noted, “Rumpke and Eastman are both committed to innovative approaches to reducing plastic waste through collaboration.”  He added, “This partnership reinforces the complementary nature of molecular and mechanical recycling to keep more raw material in the circular economy enabling brands to meet their recycled content goals.”