Patrick Simpson, a former Alaska fisherman, has founded Alaska Plastic Recovery (APR), a company dedicated to recycling plastic waste not previously accepted in Anchorage. APR’s mission is to create useful construction products from recycled plastics sourced from Plastic Ocean Waste, residential recycling programs, and industry clean-up efforts.
The company’s processing facility is entirely mobile, allowing it to move from community to community where recycled plastics are stored. Here, APR converts this plastic into valuable construction products, such as recycled plastic lumber and bricks, sold through local sales channels. This distributed recycling model is particularly beneficial for the rural coastal communities common in Alaska.
Grizzly Wood, APR’s branded plastic lumber, includes plastic 2x4s and beams renowned for their durability compared to traditional wood. This sustainable material is increasingly used in Alaska for decks, boardwalks, picnic tables, fence posts, and other outdoor applications, akin to nationally recognized brands like Trex composite decking.
Recently establishing a drop-off point in Midtown Anchorage near the old trash disposal site, APR now accepts previously unrecyclable plastics such as clamshell containers and No. 5 plastics. Once uncollected due to global recycling disruptions, these materials are now processed locally, reducing the need to ship recyclable waste outside Alaska for processing.
Kelli Toth, acting director of Solid Waste Services, praises the initiative for potentially extending the life of the Anchorage Regional Landfill and reducing waste shipped to the Lower 48. Last year alone, Anchorage sent over 1,500 tons of recyclable items outside the state for processing.
Motivated by the environmental impact of plastic waste on Alaska’s coastlines, Simpson, originally from Prince William Sound, transitioned from fishing to engineering and entrepreneurship. His goal is to demonstrate that plastic waste is a valuable resource that can be repurposed to benefit local communities.
Supported by PKS Consulting, Inc. (PKS), APR has received funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs. EPA funding supports developing the Recycled Plastic Lumber (RPL) system, piloted in Seward, Soldotna, and Palmer, Alaska. This system uses High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), and Polyamide (PA, Nylon) resins to produce durable plastic lumber.
Additionally, USDA funding facilitates a feasibility study to develop a parallel processing stream converting Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) into recycled plastic bricks. These initiatives underscore APR’s commitment to advancing sustainable practices and creating a circular economy in Alaska.
“The less that goes into the landfill, and the more we can create a circular economy, the better it is for all of Anchorage and Alaska,” emphasizes Toth. Simpson adds, “We have to find a way to show people that plastic is a resource we can utilize.”
