NOVA Circular Solutions, part of NOVA Chemicals, opens its first mechanical recycling facility for PE film in Connersville, Indiana; facility will be operated by Novolex to produce items such as water bottles, soft drink caps, sacks for pet food or mulch

May 19, 2025 (The News-Examiner) –

The grand opening of Connersville's newest manufacturing plant will be celebrated next Thursday at the site of what once was one of the largest plants in the area.

Nearly 100 invited officials and others will attend to hear remarks, enjoy lunch, and tour the new facility for NOVA Circular Solutions, a new line of business that is focused on increasing the supply of high quality recycled polyethylene resins, according to the company.

It's located in the former Visteon building at 4747 Western Ave. Before it closed in 2009, it had employed thousands in of the largest plants in east central Indiana .

NOVA Circular Solutions is the company's first mechanical recycling facility. It is projected to be one of the largest and most sophisticated plastic film recycling facilities in the world. It will be operated by Novolex , a developer of packaging projects for food service and industrial markets.

Used plastic film will be collected from retail and distribution centers and brought to the plant. This includes shipping pallet wrap, air pillows and bubble wrap, mailer bags and case overwraps. Heavy-duty shipping sacks like mulch and ice bags will also be collected.

At the facility, these post-consumer plastics will be processed to form pellets of polyethylene that can be used in new plastic products.

"These recycled plastic pellets will be used (by the company's customers) to make new products such as packaging for your water bottle, or the cap on your soft drink, or even the sack that holds your pet food or mulch," said Alan Schrob , director of mechanical recycling for NOVA Circular Solutions. "We will be giving plastic waste a new life – a new purpose."

NOVA Chemicals decided to locate in Connersville in 2022 based on access to an abundant supply of post-consumer plastic films from nearby metropolitan areas and easy access to rail for distribution of SYNDIGO recycled polyethylene products.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation also offered the company some incentive-based tax credits and educational grants for training. The city of Connersville offered incentives as well.

Mayor Chad Frank said, "The city approved a 10-year tax abatement on the business's personal property, with the first seven years more aggressive and the last three with reduced percentages. This was done to help them meet their return on investment goals on the front side, which helped them decide to make Connersville their home."

In 2023, NOVA began renovating about 450,000 square feet in the Visteon building, which has about 1.4 million square feet under roof. It began operations earlier this year and expects to employ about 125 people by mid-year.

"The facility employs a number of different disciplines include material handling, technicians in operating, maintenance, material handling and quality," the company said.

Among those attending the grand opening will be NOVA Chemicals CEO Roger Kearns and Novolex CEO Stan Bikulege . Attendees include representatives from NOVA Chemicals' board of directors, Novolex , employees, customers, engineering, procurement and construction firms, and original equipment manufacturers.

Mayor Frank and city council members are among local people invited to the activities

Frank said, "They have been a great company to work with from day one. Before they were in operation, they donated over $40,000 to our community, showing their desire to be part of it. More importantly, they took a building that sat empty primarily and looked abandoned for many years and brought it back to life while providing great jobs for our community."