Circularix will double the capacity of its Pennsylvania plant, pictured here, and open a new facility in Florida. | Photo courtesy Circularix
A company that brings in recycled PET flake and processes it into food-grade pellets will open its second U.S. facility in Florida the coming months and double the capacity of its first plant later this year.
Circularix launched in 2022 by the team behind former PET processor CarbonLite. The company’s first facility, in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, started up in 2023 with an initial capacity of 55 million pounds per year. From the beginning, the company described an ambitious growth plan that would lead to five facilities around the U.S.
On Jan. 31, the company announced it is readying its second facility to start up by the end of the first quarter of this year. That plant, located in Ocala, Florida, “mirrors” the company’s first facility, providing an additional 55 million pounds of annual capacity. Circularix previously said it would also build facilities in Arizona, Texas and the Pacific Northwest.
In a statement, Circularix co-founder Jason Farahnik said the Florida facility “represents a crucial step in our commitment to meeting the growing demand for high-quality recycled materials.”
“This expansion aligns with our goal of helping companies achieve their sustainability objectives,” Farahnik added.
Additionally, Farahnik said the Pennsylvania plant will double its capacity later in 2025, bringing the company’s total capacity to 165 million pounds by the end of the year.
Unlike CarbonLite, which bought and processed baled PET, Circularix solely sources flake, an operational choice company leaders said would help it avoid the financial struggles CarbonLite experienced.
Among other channels, Circularix sources material through a supply agreement with major hauler Republic Services, which has been developing a network of polymer centers that wash and shred plastics that come in from Republic MRFs.
Circularix customers include major consumer goods companies, many of whom have pledged to increase recycled resin use but have described challenges sourcing enough post-consumer resin to meet their goals.
In the latest announcement, Circularix directly referenced brand owner demand as a key driver behind its growth investments.
“This expansion comes at a critical time as beverage brands and consumer packaged goods companies work to increase recycled content in their packaging to meet voluntary commitments and state mandates,” the company wrote. “Circularix’s increased production capacity will play a vital role in helping these companies meet their sustainability goals and contribute to a more sustainable plastics economy.”