Plastipak to expand Dundee, Michigan, recycling facility to increase capacity of its ultraclean post-consumer rPET resin; company aims to recycle about 5 billion plastic bottles in 2011, 10 billion in 5 years

Alison Gallant

DUNDEE, Michigan , July 28, 2011 (press release) – Plastipak Packaging, a leading manufacturer of rigid plastic containers for the food, beverage, and consumer products industries today broke ground on a major expansion to its Clean Tech plastic recycling facility in Dundee, Michigan.  The expansion makes room for the installation of additional advanced plastic recycling processing technology at the site, and increases the availability of ultraclean recycled PCR PET plastic resin for Plastipak's consumer product industry customers.  With recycling capacity now installed in all of the global regions in which it operates, Plastipak expects to recycle about 5 billion plastic bottles this year, and the expansion supports its strategic goal to recycle 10 billion plastic bottles within 5 years.

Plastipak opened the Clean Tech site opened in 1988, and it has been a pioneer in the plastic recycling industry.  This expansion benefited from tax abatements approved by the Dundee Village Council, and is expected to be complete later this year.  It is truly a win-win-win for Plastipak, the community, and the environment:

    * Plastipak benefits from additional production capacity for ultraclean PCR PET plastic resin, increasingly in demand from its customers because retail consumers are demanding more recycled content in the packaging for the products they choose on store shelves.
    * The community benefits from additional investment and employment opportunities:
          o Up to 100 direct jobs at the facility over the next five years based on community collection programs, plus construction jobs during the start-up phase.
          o By adding to the end market for recycled plastic -- potentially thousands of additional Michigan jobs.  If investments are made to enhance local curbside and other recycling programs, studies show that increasing Michigan's recycling rate to the regional average would create up to 13,000 new jobs and up to $300 million in payroll for Michigan residents.  
    * The environment benefits by allowing us to recycle plastic that might otherwise end up in landfills, enabling us to significantly reduce our overall energy use and carbon footprint.


Guests helping Plastipak and Clean Tech mark this important milestone came from across local and state government included: State Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, Dundee Village Manager Bob Hamilton, Finance Director Robin Moon, and Engineer Mick Vargas.  The ceremony was also attended by representatives of Plastipak's affiliate Absopure Water Company, a strategic partner and customer of Clean Tech's bottle collection and recycled plastic production.

About Plastipak Packaging and Clean Tech

Plastipak Packaging, Inc., and Clean Tech, Inc., are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Plastipak Holdings, Inc. Plastipak Packaging was founded in 1967 and is a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-quality, rigid plastic containers for the food, beverage, and consumer products industries, and Clean Tech was founded in 1988 and is a pioneer in the recycling of bottle grade PET and HDPE plastic resins.    The Plastipak companies operate about thirty plants in the United States, South America and Europe, with a total of about 5000 employees.  Its customers include some of the world's most respected and recognized consumer brands.  Plastipak is also a leading innovator in the packaging industry, holding more than 300 patents for its state-of-the-art package designs and manufacturing processes.  In addition, Plastipak licenses various packaging technologies around the world, including its breakthrough ThermoShape™ technology for the lightweighting and reshaping of blow-molded plastic containers.  Plastipak was founded in 1967, and is headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan.  Additional information about Plastipak can be found at its website www.plastipak.com.

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