Missouri-based MRF to recover 100 tons of polypropylene annually with new investment

The Recycling Partnership and the City of St. Peters, Missouri, have announced a major upgrade to the region's recycling infrastructure. With new equipment at the Recycle City materials recovery facility (MRF) and targeted support from The Partnership's Polypropylene Recycling Coalition, the city is now positioned to recover and recycle more materials, including #5 plastic (polypropylene).

This investment strengthens the entire regional system. The upgraded facility serves St. Peters, Cottleville, and O'Fallon and is now expected to recover an additional 100 tons of polypropylene each year. That means more yogurt cups, deli containers, and takeout packaging collected curbside can be recycled and manufactured into new products, keeping valuable material out of landfills and in use.   

Polypropylene is widely used in everyday packaging, and demand for post-consumer content is growing, yet only eight percent is recycled annually in the U.S. The Recycle City investment addresses two core challenges: limited sorting capability and public participation. Alongside the equipment installation, the City of St. Peters and The Partnership will launch a focused education campaign to help residents understand what is accepted and how to recycle it properly. The campaign will run through the end of 2025.  

This milestone builds on the collaborative work between St. Peters and The Partnership. In 2024, over 20,000 homes in St. Peters and nearby Cottleville received new 95-gallon recycling carts with support from the American Beverage Association and Missouri Beverage Association through the Every Bottle Back initiative. Through that project, the city transitioned from a limited, opt-in bag-based recycling system to a modern, universal cart-based curbside program. 

A collaborative effort to improve recycling in St. Peters 

Recycle City held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and public open house to mark the opening of the upgraded facility on July 9, 2025. The Partnership and the City will continue to work together through 2025 to support education and participation. 

"St. Peters is a clear example of what it takes to strengthen a regional recycling system," said Cody Marshall, Chief Recycling Officer at The Recycling Partnership. "This is not just an equipment upgrade. It's a commitment to the full system and a proof point that shows investment in local recycling programs pays dividends for the local economy and domestic recycling supply chain." 

"The Recycling Partnership's guidance and expertise were essential in revitalizing Recycle City and beginning a new era of recycling in the St. Peters area," said Elliot Schneider, the city's manager for environmental and fleet services. "We have big plans to carry this momentum forward and grow recycling throughout our community."