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Brightmark and Lewis Salvage Achieve Milestone in Medical Plastics Recycling Efforts

In a significant development for environmental sustainability, Brightmark LLC has announced that its partnership with Lewis Salvage has successfully recycled over 1 million pounds of medical plastics. This collaboration, rooted in the town of Warsaw, Indiana, is pivotal due to the region's concentration of orthopedic manufacturers and its critical need for effective waste management solutions.

The milestone reflects the commitment of both companies to address the growing problem of plastic waste in healthcare. Each day, U.S. healthcare facilities generate approximately 14,000 tons of waste, of which 25% consists of plastics, predominantly single-use items. Alarmingly, 91% of these plastics remain unrecycled, often ending up in landfills.

A Breakthrough in Recycling Technology

Brightmark's advanced Plastics Renewal® technology is central to the success of this recycling initiative. This proprietary method enables the transformation of various difficult-to-recycle materials—such as medical trays, packaging films, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW PE) from manufacturing chips—into reusable building blocks for creating new plastic products.

Bob Powell, Founder and CEO of Brightmark, emphasized the significance of surpassing the one-million-pound recycling mark, stating, “It’s proof that advanced recycling technologies can make a real impact on the healthcare industry's plastic waste challenge.” This initiative not only scales up recycling efforts but also provides a viable model for managing medical plastics, which are often seen as hard to recycle.

Growing Need for Sustainable Practices

The demand for single-use medical plastics has surged due to their role in ensuring sterile conditions for healthcare devices and packaging. As the industry expands, so does the necessity for sustainable waste management solutions. Cary Lewis, CEO of Lewis Salvage, noted, “As Warsaw's orthopedic manufacturing industry grows, manufacturers are seeking more sustainable, efficient recycling solutions.”

The collaborative efforts of Brightmark and Lewis Salvage are addressing these needs by converting waste into valuable materials, thus diverting plastics from landfills and paving the way for a circular economy. Since the partnership began on July 30, 2024, they have ramped up their recycling capacity, proving that innovation combined with commitment can foster environmental stewardship.

The Process of Recycling Medical Plastics

Through the Minimized Landfill Recycling Program implemented by Lewis Salvage, healthcare plastics from various manufacturers are collected and then transported to the Brightmark Circularity Center in Ashley, Indiana. The cooperation between the two companies encompasses more than just recycling; it’s a strategic move toward eliminating waste and establishing new sustainable practices within the healthcare sector.

Last year, as the partnership took its first steps, the initial recycling goal of 400,000 pounds was swiftly outpaced, showcasing the potential for significant impact. Currently, the partnership's achievements not only promote a more effective recycling mechanism but also underscore the changing attitudes towards plastic waste within the healthcare industry.

Looking Ahead

Brightmark continues its mission of Reimagining Waste by developing innovative solutions that contribute to a healthier environment. The company has recycled over nine million pounds of plastics destined for landfills and mitigated more than one million tons of CO2 emissions through advanced methods such as anaerobic digestion.

The ongoing commitment to sustainability is evident not just in the metrics of plastic recycling but also in the education and community engagement efforts Brightmark undertakes. This partnership with Lewis Salvage exemplifies how businesses can collaborate to address ecological challenges while promoting efficient practices that adhere to the demands of modern industry.

For further information on their initiatives, please visit Brightmark’s website.

In conclusion, the collaboration between Brightmark and Lewis Salvage is rewriting the narrative around healthcare plastics recycling, setting a standard for innovation, sustainability, and responsibility in preserving our planet.