WestRock to Accept Foodservice Packaging For Recycling at its Mills

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): WestRock Company announced that its 100% recycled paperboard mills across the U.S. will begin accepting paper foodservice packaging for recycling. All of the company’s mills are equipped to accept mixed paper bales containing foodservice packaging, the company press release said. Incidentally, mills have so far been reluctant to accept packaging such as cups, cartons and pizza boxes, on account of food contamination and recycling challenges posed by the layer of polymer coating on them.

WestRock had initiated a trial in 2017 at its St.Paul, Minnesota recycled paperboard mill, whereby it accepted poly-coated foodservice packaging. The Chattanooga, Tennessee and Louisville, Kentucky  recycling facilities also started accepting them during the same year. The trials proved that addition of foodservice packaging did not cause any disruption to mill operations.

DJ Vandeusen, senior vice president of WestRock’s Recycling business stated that the company is positioned to service foodservice packaging collected by residential recycling programs. The recycling process now turns these packaging into new, usable products, he added. Meantime, Lynn Dyer, president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute commended WestRock’s leadership role. The Institute looks forward to partner with the company in raising awareness of the recyclability of paper-based packaging products.