Brightmark’s innovative renewal technology transforms difficult-to-recycle healthcare plastics into new materials
Brightmark LLC, a circular innovations company with a mission to Reimagine Waste, entered into a strategic partnership with Lewis Salvage. The independently-owned recycling company based in Warsaw, Indiana, has surpassed one million pounds of plastics recycled, successfully diverting medical plastic waste away from landfills and incinerators.
Reusing single-use plastics
Single-use medical plastics continue to grow, fueled by rising demand for sterile, disposable devices and packaging. Plastic makes up about 25 percent of the 14,000 tons of waste generated daily in U.S. healthcare facilities and 91 percent of plastics, including those used in healthcare, are not recycled and wind up in landfills or the environment.
This achievement marks a significant step forward to address the growing environmental challenge posed by single-use plastics used in the healthcare industry. Since the inception of this strategic partnership on July 30, 2024, Brightmark has increased its recycling efforts from an initial 400,000 pounds of plastic waste to over 1 million pounds.
Through Lewis Salvage’s Minimized Landfill Recycling Program, healthcare plastics from medical device and orthopaedic implant manufacturers are collected and transported to the Brightmark Circularity Center in Ashley, Indiana. Using Plastics Renewal technology, Brightmark transforms a wide range of difficult-to-recycle materials—including trays, films, Styrofoam, packaging, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW PE) machining chips and turnings from implant manufacturing—into the building blocks used to create new, circular products. Materials that were once considered unrecyclable are now being converted into valuable products.
This milestone builds on last year’s launch of the Brightmark and Lewis Salvage partnership, which set out to improve healthcare plastics recyclability in the Warsaw region. Since then, the collaboration has expanded its impact, diverting even more difficult-to-recycle medical plastics from landfills and transforming them into valuable circular products.
Increasing plastics recycling with a strong collaboration
“Surpassing the 1-million-pound mark is more than just a number; it’s proof that advanced recycling technologies can make a real impact on the healthcare industry’s plastic waste challenge,” said Bob Powell, founder and CEO of Brightmark. “Our proprietary Plastics Renewal technology is at the core of this success, enabling us to recycle a broad range of plastics—including those from healthcare settings that would otherwise be discarded. Since launching this effort, we’ve increased the volume of plastics recycled and demonstrated a model for the recycling of medical plastics.”
“Our partnership with Brightmark is transforming waste into valuable materials, reducing landfill use, and creating new opportunities for businesses to join the circular economy,” said Cary Lewis, owner and CEO of Lewis Salvage. “As Warsaw’s orthopedic manufacturing industry grows, manufacturers are seeking more sustainable, efficient recycling solutions. Together, we’re proving that innovative technology and commitment can drive true environmental stewardship.”
Source : Recycling Product News