Republic Services has opened its second Polymer Center in Indianapolis, expanding a US network designed to turn collected plastic packaging into high-quality recycled feedstock. STADLER engineered and installed the sorting system, building on the companies’ first Polymer Center project in Las Vegas.
The facility receives pre-sorted plastics from Republic Services and separates PET from mixed polyolefins. Its two dedicated lines can process 5.5 tonnes of PET and 5 tonnes of mixed plastics per hour, preparing material for food-grade recycled resins used in new bottles, jugs and containers.
On the PET line, mechanical separation, ballistic sorting and near-infrared sensors remove metals and separate rigid items, films and fines. Labels, caps and rings are isolated before clear PET enters washing and granulation. The mixed-plastics line produces several colour grades of polyethylene and polypropylene while returning any recovered PET to the dedicated PET stream.
A linear layout, enclosed pre-sort area and centrally positioned control room were chosen to simplify maintenance and give operators a clear view of material flow. The project reflects growing demand for consistent recycled polymers in North America, where packaging producers need dependable quality as recycled-content requirements and customer expectations increase.
