Association of Plastic Recyclers acquires Resource Recycling publishing and events group

The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) recently completed negotiations to purchase Resource Recycling, Inc., the publication and conference management firm that has been in operation for over three decades.

As the international trade association representing the plastics recycling industry, APR sees the acquisition as an opportunity to push forward its mission in a variety of ways. The move will help the group bolster its ability to connect and communicate with a wide range of recycling stakeholders, which can lead to improvements around the supply, demand and quality of recycled plastics.

"APR has had long-term respect for Resource Recycling's industry voice," stated Steve Alexander, APR's president and CEO. "APR's goal is to grow recycling, and having a widely respected publishing and conference management arm helps accomplish this important purpose. The distribution of well-researched recycling information greatly benefits APR members."

Resource Recycling, Inc. publishes three recycling industry titles (Resource Recycling, Plastics Recycling Update and E-Scrap News) and produces three annual events (the Resource Recycling Conference and Trade Show, Plastics Recycling Conference and Trade Show, and E-Scrap Conference and Trade Show). 

Although the purchase includes conferences and media properties that extend beyond plastics recycling, APR sees enormous value in the extended reach and revenue opportunities associated with the full Resource Recycling, Inc. portfolio. The association is excited to grow these assets moving forward.

All Resource Recycling, Inc. publications and conferences will continue to be managed and operated by current Resource Recycling, Inc. staff, based in Portland, Oregon, and the staff will work largely independently from APR. Similar to how Resource Recycling, Inc. works with other industry sources, editorial and conference staff will receive input from APR and its members on key plastics recycling trends and issues.

"Our team will remain at the Portland office, and we plan to maintain our important relationships with groups and companies across the recycling industry," said Dan Leif, managing editor of Resource Recycling, Inc. "Further, we have every intention of continuing to produce the objective, high-quality news stories and conference events that are critical to a healthy and well-informed recycling sector. We look forward to working with APR, as we have in the past, while protecting and maintaining our independent industry perspective."

The acquisition was finalized shortly before the 2019 Plastics Recycling Conference and Trade Show, set to be held March 11-13 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center outside of Washington, D.C. The conference, now in its 14th year, was founded by Resource Recycling, Inc. and serves as the largest North American gathering of plastics recycling professionals.