COLUMBIA, S.C. – September 6, 2007 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce today announced that The Coca-Cola Company and United Resource Recovery Corporation (URRC) have finalized an investment agreement to build the world’s largest food-grade plastic bottle to bottle recycling plant.
Gov. Mark Sanford offered the following comments regarding the investment agreement, “This announcement represents a significant step for our state in terms of global recognition and new opportunity. The fact that a world-renowned leader such as Coca-Cola chose to partner with a South Carolina company demonstrates the strength of our state’s business climate, the innovation in our economy, and our state’s ability to compete in a growing global marketplace.”
The $50 million plant to be located in Spartanburg, S.C. will produce approximately 100 million pounds of recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic for reuse each year - the equivalent of producing nearly two billion 20-ounce Coca-Cola bottles. The expansion project on the 30-acre Spartanburg site will be completed in 2008 and is expected to create approximately 100 new jobs over five years.
“We are proud to announce our new partnership with The Coca-Cola Company. The potential of this business is vitally important to the global recycling economy and the environment, and we are well positioned for the future,” said Carlos Gutierrez, President, United Resource Recovery Corporation.
Recycling plastic for reuse yields financial benefits, requires less energy, and reduces waste and greenhouse gases. Over the next 10 years, this new Spartanburg recycling plant will eliminate the production of one million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions - the equivalent of removing 215,000 cars from the road.
“We are pleased to announce this expansion of our facilities in Spartanburg County. Upon completion this plant will recycle over five million bottles per day. This new capacity will help all of our customers meet their sustainable packaging goals while assuring a growing high value domestic market for recycled post-consumer bottles for municipal collection programs nationally,” said Gerry Fishbeck, Vice President, United Resource Recovery Corporation and Chairman of the South Carolina Recycling Market Development Advisory Council.
A prototype plant has been operational commercially since 2001 at the Spartanburg location. This new Spartanburg plant is modeled after the first successful food quality plastic recycling facility opened in Mexico in 2005 and operated by The Coca-Cola Company and its bottlers.
“URRC is a world leader in recycling technology and its presence in South Carolina elevates our state’s reputation in this field. The Department of Commerce has worked with URRC for a number of years to expand opportunities and grow its Spartanburg facility. Today’s announcement is the culmination of these efforts and is sure to be only the beginning of more good news in the years to come,” said Joe Taylor, South Carolina Secretary of Commerce.
Coca-Cola initiated a partnership with URRC in 1996 aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of new, sustainable recycling processes. Since this time the Coca-Cola System has invested in recycling plants using the URRC process and other technologies, in 17 countries.
Today there is a strong demand for recycled PET - both in the U.S. and throughout the world. More than 50 percent of PET plastic beverage bottles collected in the U.S. are used for fiber applications such as carpeting, clothing, and fiberfill. This demand, coupled with other end-use markets such as bottles, continues to ensure that the value for collected PET plastic remains strong.
About URRC
The United Resource Recovery Corporation (URRC), headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C. is a leader in PET recycling technology. In 1994, URRC completely revolutionized the PET recycling industry by developing and patenting the world renown Hybrid UnPET process for chemically super-cleaning PET flake for cost efficient food grade packaging. In 1996, the company entered into a five-year development program with The Coca-Cola Company to commercialize the process by producing food-grade quality PET chip for bottle-to-bottle recycling. URRC provides manufacturing in the United States and offers licensing opportunities and engineering services for clients worldwide.