The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, DC) has announced that LyondellBasell (Houston, TX) has joined its Flexible Film Recycling Group (FFRG), a collaboration working to double the recycling of post-use polyethylene film by 2020. The FFRG’s members are from the entire polyethylene (PE) film value chain, including major resin suppliers, manufacturers (also known as converters), brand owners and recyclers.

North Carolina has also entered into the group, making it the second state after Wisconsin to partner with FFRG’s Wrap Action Recycling Program (WRAP).  WRAP works directly with states, municipalities and retailers committed to increasing plastic film recycling through store drop-off programs.

“We are thrilled to welcome LyondellBasell and North Carolina in our efforts to significantly increase the recycling of flexible wraps and bags,” said Shari Jackson, Director of FFRG. “These great partnerships expand our footprint and our ability to educate consumers about the wide range of polyethylene film packaging that can be recycled at major grocery and retail stores.”

“Polyethylene is a valuable material and resource even after its initial use,” said Jim Clark, LyondellBasell’s Polyethylene Director, Americas. “We look forward to working with FFRG and the WRAP Partners to see that more post-use polyethylene packaging gets recycled.”

Together, WRAP and North Carolina will put in place a series of campaign initiatives using effective communications tools and best practices to support community outreach efforts on plastic film recycling.  The program will also work to encourage commitment by more retailers to collect a broader mix of polyethylene film materials from consumers. Additionally, the program will work to expand collection and recycling of commercial film (pallet wrap and transport packaging) from small- to mid-sized businesses.

"Much of the infrastructure to recycle polyethylene wraps and bags is already in place," said Scott Mouw, of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). “Working through WRAP will expedite our efforts to educate residents about opportunities to recycle and divert more valuable plastics and reduce waste.”

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (Charlottesville, VA) and the Association of Plastics Recyclers (Washington, DC) will also partner with the NCDEQ and FFRG in the North Carolina WRAP program.

Founding members of the FFRG include Dow Chemical (Midland, MI), ExxonMobil (Irving, TX), Chevron Phillips (The Woodlands, TX), Berry Plastics (Evansville, IN), Wisconsin Film and Bag (Shawano, WI), Sealed Air Corp. (Elmwood Park, NJ), SC Johnson (Racine, WI), Trex (Winchester, VA) and Avangard (Houston, TX).