Phoenix partners with recycling companies to turn plastic into fuel

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Public Works Department’s new partnership with Renew Phoenix plans to turn low-value plastics into fuel.

This decision comes after China decided to no longer accept certain recycled materials from the U.S., according to a press release.

This forced the city of Phoenix to find new, creative solutions for its recycled material.

“This a perfect example of the Team Phoenix approach, where the city and business community come together to create a public-private partnership to build the city’s circular economy,” Councilman Michael Nowakowski said in a statement on Wednesday.

“This new venture will benefit all residents and businesses while encouraging others to bring next-generation technology to the city of Phoenix to help us create a more sustainable and healthier planet for our children.”

Renew Phoenix, a joint venture between Renewlogy and Generated Materials Recovery, will work to build a facility to process the materials on Phoenix’s Resource Innovation Campus, according to the release.

The company also plans to hire 15 full-time jobs for the $5 million project.

Renew Phoenix plans to convert the material by using a chemical recycling process to reverse the plastic to basic molecules that allow them to be changed into fuel.

The project is expected to convert 10 tons of plastic waste a day, which is equal to 60 barrels of fuel.

“Renewlogy is excited about bringing our technology to Phoenix and creating a more circular economy around plastic waste locally,” Priyanka Bakaya, founder and CEO of Renewlogy, said in the release.

“Phoenix will serve as a model for cities around the country looking for local solutions for plastic waste.”

This is the latest project in the city’s Reimagine Phoenix initiative to increase the city’s waste diversion rate and ultimately reach zero plastic waste by 2050.