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Where do my recycled materials go?
A worker uses a forklift to move compressed blocks of recyclable materials that have been collected and sorted at WM's new facility in Fort Walton Beach.
Recyclable materials that are collected by the City of Fort Walton Beach as part of its curbside recycling program are sorted in a new WM facility located in the City's Commerce and Technology Park, and then shipped to a variety of companies for reuse. Here are some of the companies that turn your recycling into new products.
Paper Products – Georgia Pacific Mill
Location: Facilities in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Oregon
Georgia-Pacific operates multiple paper mills that produce 100% recycled paper from recovered fiber, which is then used to manufacture corrugated boxes and other paper products. Its Consumer Products division includes well-known brands such as Quilted Northern, Angel Soft, Brawny, Dixie, Vanity Fair, and Sparkle, producing bathroom tissue, paper towels, napkins, and tableware. The company recycles over 3 million tons of material annually and has invested heavily in expanding its recycling infrastructure.
Paper Products – Pratt Industries
Location: Headquarters located in Georgia but multiple locations across the US
Pratt Industries is a major player in the U.S. recycling and packaging industry, operating 100% recycled paper mills and corrugated box plants nationwide. The company collects recyclable materials from over 35 states and recovers more than 3 million tons annually. It officially opened its $700 million paper mill and corrugated box factory in Henderson, Kentucky, in September 2023. This facility is the most technologically advanced and environmentally friendly paper mill ever built by Pratt Industries. It produces 1,500 tons of 100% recycled paper daily, saving the equivalent of 25,000 trees every day.
Old Corrugated Containers – International Paper
Location: Multiple locations all over the world
International Paper is a leading global producer of fiber-based packaging and paper products. The company operates a nationwide network of recycling plants that handle old corrugated containers (OCC), office papers, mixed papers, plastics, and metals. International Paper's recycling operations support its sustainable manufacturing processes and contribute to reducing landfill waste.
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Repak is a company specializing in aluminum recycling. While specific details about Repak's operations are limited, the company is known for processing aluminum scrap into high-quality recycled aluminum products used in various industries. Aluminum recycling is a critical component of sustainable manufacturing, as it significantly reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions compared to producing new aluminum from raw materials.
Location: Troy, Alabama
KW Plastics is a leading recycler of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. The company processes post-consumer HDPE containers, such as milk jugs and detergent bottles, into clean, high-quality recycled resin. This recycled resin is then used to produce new plastic products, contributing to the circular economy and reducing plastic waste. KW offers a variety of premium resins to the packaging, beauty and personal care, housewares, automotive, pipe, paint and coatings, agriculture, and sheet industries.
Glass – Strategic Materials Inc. now Sibelco
Location: Multiple locations in the US, Canada, and Mexico
Strategic Materials Inc (SMI), now Sibelco, is one of North America's largest glass recyclers, operating 42 facilities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company processes approximately 2 million tons of recycled glass (cullet) annually, which is used in manufacturing glass containers, fiberglass, and other products.
PET – Clear Path Recycling
Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina
Clear Path Recycling is a company focused on recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, commonly used in beverage bottles. The company processes post-consumer PET bottles into high-quality recycled PET resin, which is then used to produce new bottles and other products. This process helps reduce plastic waste and supports the circular economy.
Location: Mount Vernon, Ohio
AMG Industries is a company involved in the recycling of steel cans. The company processes post-consumer steel cans into high-quality recycled steel, which is then used in manufacturing new steel products. They have manufactured premium exhaust tips for the automotive industry for more than two decades. Steel recycling is essential for conserving natural resources and reducing energy consumption in steel production.