New venture will process post-consumer PLA resin

Biocor LLC has launched itself as a buyer, aggregator and processor of post-consumer polylactic acid (PLA), the fully plant-based bioplastic, citing as an advantage that PLA can be converted back to its original lactic acid feedstock for subsequent use. The firm says several sources wanting to sell post-industrial and post-consumer PLA have already approached it.

Located in Concord, CA, Biocor says it is currently hiring staff and scaling up its infrastructure to address the North American market. The firm's Executive Director, Mike Centers, says Biocor will pay an attractive price for PLA in any packaging format, and will work with recyclers on efficient separation of post-consumer PLA from other plastics.

Centers is a 20-year recycling veteran, founder of Titus Maintenance and Installations Services, which installed and maintained material recovery facilities (MRFs) in the western U.S. He said, "I believe the economics of selling recycled PLA to a variety of lactic acid end markets are compelling. The Biocor business will conserve nonrenewable resources, lower carbon emissions, and reduce packaging waste." —immeditorial@cancom.com