Sign In
Upcoming Event
Free Newsletter
Global packaging company opens first U.S. recycling center in Berks
Dawn Ouellette Nixon//March 6, 2020
Global packaging company opens first U.S. recycling center in Berks
Dawn Ouellette Nixon//March 6, 2020//
DS Smith, a sustainable packaging company, opened its first recycling facility in the United States in Reading. The company currently has more than 250 recycling facilities throughout Europe.
The new 43,000-square-foot plant in Reading will recover paper for recycling from local distribution centers, packaging facilities, retailers and print shops.
“This new plant can recycle over 36,000 tons of old corrugated cardboard each year, creating new fully recyclable packaging for our customers in this region,” said Toby Earnest, head of recycling for DS Smith in North America. “Our goal is to achieve zero cardboard and paper going to landfill after packaging is used. We have quite a bit of work to do in the U.S. before this can become a reality, but the opening of our recycling facility is an important first step in developing an infrastructure that can support a circular system in the U.S.”
According to DS Smith, the facility’s recycling process allows for corrugated packaging to be made, used, collected and recycled into corrugated boxes again within just 14 days. It can also reduce the amount of fiber in its boxes by up to 30%.
DS Smith is a net positive recycler, which means it collects and recycles more packaging than it produces.
