Plastics Circularity: Past, Present, and Future

Achieving plastics circularity requires efficient collection and sorting, coupled with robust recycling technology.

This panel discussion features experts from Eastman Chemical, EFS-plastics Inc., and the Centre County (PA) Recycling and Refuse Authority. Topics include chemical recycling with PET resin, mechanical recycling of multiple polymer types, and the challenges that are created when a largely rural county (Centre County) is home to a major university (Penn State University), particularly on football Saturdays.

Each speaker will present their unique perspectives on the recycling process and the progress they see being made, as well as give an overview of the history of recycling and the historical efforts to move from a linear plastics economy to a circular one.

This Joseph Priestley Society talk is coproduced by the American Chemical Society as part of its ACS Webinars series.

What You’ll Learn

• Critical success factors for collecting and sorting post-consumer recycled plastics
• How chemical recycling allows for the cost-effective production of virgin resin
• How mechanical recyclers meet customer performance requirements

Takeaways

• Technologies are in place to allow the recycling and reuse of a variety of post-consumer plastic streams
• Achieving scale and competitive economics are needed to build a circular economy for plastics

About the Speakers

Jeff Carbeck
Vice President, Corporate Innovation and Care Solutions Technology, Eastman

Jeff Carbeck is a native of Michigan and holds a bachelor of science and engineering from the University of Michigan and a PhD from MIT, both degrees in materials science. Carbeck started his career in academia at Princeton University, where he was a professor of chemical engineering and materials science for eight years. He then spent the next eight years starting and building companies to find societal benefits in new chemicals and materials technologies. Carbeck joined Monitor Deloitte and built and led a global team helping clients with innovation strategy in the chemicals and materials sector. He has held several leadership roles in the technology industry, including chief scientist at Nano-Terra, cofounder at Arsenal Medical, founding CTO at MC10, and CEO of 10EQS.

Mimi Joy Cooper
Recycling Coordinator, Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority

Mimi Cooper is the recycling coordinator for the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority, where she oversees collections and operations of a source-separated recycling processing facility in central Pennsylvania. A graduate of Penn State University, Mimi is a Senior Certified Recycling Professional through the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania (PROP). She has partnered with local schools to achieve Green Ribbon School recognition from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as the Presidential Youth Environmental Awards. Mimi regularly teaches classes on backyard composting and vermicomposting for all ages, and she also leads professional development courses for PROP members.

Hendrik Dullinger
Vice President, Business Development, EFS-plastics Inc.

Hendrik Dullinger holds a master’s degree in international management and has 10 years of industry experience. He launched plastics recycling projects in Europe, Asia, and North America. His journey began in retail recycling where he designed and executed zero waste programs for a large global grocery chain. As vice president of business development at EFS-plastics, Hendrik is responsible for corporate growth and EFS’s go-to-market strategy including supplier partnerships and converter relations.

Kaitlyn Zajkowski
Student, Penn State University
Intern, Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority

Kaitlyn Zajkowski is a student at Penn State studying materials science and engineering with a focus in sustainable plastics and circularity of materials. She worked as an intern at Centre Country Recycling and Refuse authority, where she had to opportunity to learn more about the challenges of recycling. After graduation, she hopes to apply her awareness of sustainability principles and knowledge of materials science to contribute to sustainability in an industrial setting.

Registration closes at 10am ET on February 13, 2025.

About the Series

The Joseph Priestley Society (JPS) promotes a deeper understanding of science, technology, and industry, with an emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. Speakers are leaders from a wide variety of large and small chemical companies and the financial, consulting, and academic communities.

For more information about this event, please contact jps@sciencehistory.org.

This event is coproduced by the American Chemical Society as part of its ACS Webinars series.

Image: “All Wrapped Up in Ethocel, ” 1938 advertisement for Dow Chemical Company