- Project led by the Hefty® EnergyBag® program and Dow, in collaboration with ByFusion, offers sustainable ways to reuse hard-to-recycle plastic waste
According to the company’s website press release on November 1, 2022, Reynolds Consumer Products, Dow (NYSE: DOW), and ByFusion are announcing a new business agreement that continues their collaboration in the greater Boise area to divert hard-to-recycle plastics from the landfill.
The announcement follows a successful demonstration project that began in July 2021 to collect plastic waste from the community through the Hefty® EnergyBag® program and convert the materials into ByBlocks®. This novel materials agreement signifies a substantial milestone for ByFusion’s Blocker technology as an effective mechanical recycling process and extends the collection for another year with the ultimate goal of increasing circular solutions in Idaho.
Since July 2021, the ByFusion pilot project has taken hard-to-recycle plastic materials collected through Boise’s existing Hefty® EnergyBag® program and has converted them into ByBlocks®, the first-ever construction-grade block made from plastics previously destined for landfills. The pilot phase aimed to create new, circular uses for up to 72 tons of hard-to-recycle plastics and within a year has exceeded that objective with 80 tons repurposed to date.
“ByFusion is thrilled with the results from our ongoing partnership with the Hefty® EnergyBag® program and Dow,” said Heidi Kujawa, CEO, ByFusion. “After seeing the impressive results from the Boise community, I’m confident about our ability to meet our goal of placing a Blocker System in every city.”
The ByFusion demonstration project reveals how communities of all sizes can put their hard-to-recycle plastic waste to good use by converting it into a building material that meets community needs. In February 2022, the City of Boise unveiled a new park bench made of ByBlocks® in Manitou Park. Boisesourced ByBlocks® may also be used to create community infrastructure like create perimeter walls, privacy fencing, sound walls, bus stations, dumpster enclosures, storage facilities, and residential projects and much more.
“After a successful first year, we now have a proven solution to prevent more plastic from ending up in landfills,” said Jennifer Ellis, City of Boise Public Works Commissioner. “We’re enabling sustainable development in Boise while encouraging recycling in our community. I’m grateful for our citizens who have participated in the Hefty® EnergyBag® program to collect plastic waste. Without their efforts, we wouldn’t have the materials needed to develop sustainably with ByBlocks®. I’m excited to see how the program’s continuation will impact further growth in Boise as well as expand plastic recycling in other areas.”
The Hefty® EnergyBag® program in the Greater Boise area began in 2018 as community members purchased the orange bags at stores in the community and placed hard-to-recycle plastics into the bags for curbside pickup with their normal recycling. Haulers pick up and deliver the bags to local recycling facilities as part of their routine service and schedules.
“By partnering with Dow and ByFusion, we’ve seen how a local community can come together to collect hard-to-recycle plastics through the Hefty® EnergyBag® program and convert them into valuable resources,” said Lisa Burns, Senior Vice President, Sustainability, Reynolds Consumer Products. “Greater Boise has responded so favorably to the program and helped send 80 tons of plastic through ByFusion’s Blocker process. Across all Hefty® EnergyBag® projects in Boise, that brings the total material diverted to over 1000 tons since the initial launch in this community. I’m happy to see such a positive example of the program in action, and I’m eager to continue exploring new end-usage opportunities in other communities.”
“Dow is proud to continue our work with Hefty® EnergyBag® and ByFusion in Boise,” said Danielle Chatman-Moore, Dow’s North American Sustainability Manager for Packaging & Specialty Plastics. “Extending the opportunity for a community to continue to capture valuable plastic material to provide a best-use alternative is inspiring. We are focused on imagining a better recycling system for everyone, where no valuable materials go to waste and this agreement enables this community to be active participants in the evolving circular economy.”
About Reynolds Consumer Products
Reynolds Consumer Products (REYN: Nasdaq) is a leading provider of household products that simplify daily life so you can enjoy what matters most. Reynolds® and Hefty® brand products help make mealtime easier with preparation, cooking, cleanup, and storage solutions. For more information, visit ReynoldsConsumerProducts.com and HeftyEnergyBag.com.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth; asset integration and scale; focused innovation and materials science expertise; leading business positions; and environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership to achieve profitable growth and deliver a sustainable future. The Company's ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world. Dow's portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated, science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Dow operates 104 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 35,700 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $55 billion in 2021. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.
About ByFusion
ByFusion® is an innovative manufacturing company committed to protecting the environment and giving a second life to plastic waste by reshaping its future. A certified B Corporation and an essential cog in the wheel of a circular economy, ByFusion has a patented process that converts all types of plastic waste, including marine debris, into a building material called ByBlock®—the first-ever constructiongrade block made from unrecyclable plastic. ByFusion’s solution enables communities, corporations and governments to realize a cleaner world while creating jobs, improving infrastructure and revitalizing neighborhoods everywhere. For more information, please visit www.byfusion.com/ or follow @ByFusion on Instagram and Twitter.
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