Commercial flexible film recycling programs begin proof of concept in California
Plastic film from warehouses, distribution centres, and manufacturing facilities represents a source of clean, single-material polyethylene
The Flexible Film Recycling Alliance (FFRA), a national organization dedicated to advancing the recovery and recycling of plastic film and flexible packaging, has announced the launch of two first-of-their-kind commercial recycling pilot programs in California.
Commercial plastic film recycling pilot programs source clean materials
The pilot programs are designed to generate real-world operational data on commercial film collection, inform future program development under California's evolving recycling system, and identify approaches that can be replicated and scaled.
Commercial plastic film generated by warehouses, distribution centres, retail backrooms, and manufacturing facilities is well-suited for recycling because it is typically clean and consists primarily of a single-material polyethylene stream. The pilots will evaluate approaches for collecting, aggregating, and delivering this material to recycling end markets.
The two regional pilots, managed by FFRA and the Stewardship Action Foundation, include:
- Sacramento Region Pilot - This pilot will evaluate a distributed collection model for small and medium commercial film generators using the existing commercial service routes of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
- Ontario/Inland Empire Pilot - This pilot will evaluate a warehouse-focused collection model for large generators through the logistics network of Shorr Packaging, a national packaging distributor serving warehouse and distribution center customers.
Both pilots will use standardized ‘Rack n' Pack' film collection systems that allow businesses to separate polyethylene film at the point of generation. Collected material will be transported to regional aggregation facilities where it will be weighed, consolidated, and baled prior to shipment to recycling markets. Collection activities as part of the pilot program began operating July 1, 2026, and will continue through November 30, 2026, followed by evaluation and final reporting.
"FFRA has emerged as a leader in advancing practical, sustainable solutions for flexible film recycling," said Kurt Kurzawa, who leads FFRA. "These pilots reflect the collaborative approach that defines our work, bringing together businesses across the value chain to test new collection models, generate meaningful data and help build a stronger foundation for future film recycling programs."
