Brightmark and Lewis Salvage Partnership Hits Major Milestone, Recycling Over 1 Million Pounds of Medical Plastics

The strategic partnership continues to leverage Brightmark's innovative Plastics Renewal® technology to transform difficult-to-recycle mixed plastics from medical implants into the building blocks for new, circular plastics

WARSAW, Ind., Aug. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Brightmark LLC, a circular innovations company with a mission to Reimagine Waste®, announced today that its strategic partnership with Lewis Salvage, an independently-owned recycling company based in Warsaw, Indiana, a location with the world's highest concentration of orthopedic design and manufacturing companies, has surpassed one million pounds of plastics recycled, successfully diverting medical plastic waste away from landfills and incinerators.

"Surpassing the 1-million-pound mark is more than just a number; it's proof that advanced recycling technologies can make a real impact on the healthcare industry's plastic waste challenge," said Bob Powell, Founder and CEO of Brightmark. "Our proprietary Plastics Renewal® technology is at the core of this success, enabling us to recycle a broad range of plastics—including those from healthcare settings that would otherwise be discarded. Since launching this effort, we've increased the volume of plastics recycled and demonstrated a model for the recycling of medical plastics."

The use of single-use medical plastics continues to grow, fueled by rising demand for sterile, disposable devices and packaging in healthcare settings. Plastic makes up about 25% of the 14,000 tons of waste generated daily in US healthcare facilities every day. And 91% of plastics, including those used in healthcare, are not recycled and either reside in landfills or the environment.

This achievement marks a significant step forward in addressing the growing environmental challenge posed by single-use plastics utilized in the healthcare industry. Since the inception of this strategic partnership on July 30, 2024, Brightmark has increased its recycling efforts from an initial 400,000 pounds of plastic waste to over 1 million pounds.

"Our partnership with Brightmark is transforming waste into valuable materials, reducing landfill use, and creating new opportunities for businesses to join the circular economy," said Cary Lewis, Owner & CEO of Lewis Salvage. "As Warsaw's orthopedic manufacturing industry grows, manufacturers are seeking more sustainable, efficient recycling solutions. Together, we're proving that innovative technology and commitment can drive true environmental stewardship."

Through Lewis Salvage's Minimized Landfill Recycling Program, healthcare plastics from medical device and orthopedic implant manufacturers are collected and transported to the Brightmark Circularity Center in Ashley, Indiana. Using Plastics Renewal® technology, Brightmark transforms a wide range of difficult-to-recycle materials—including trays, films, Styrofoam, packaging, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW PE) machining chips and turnings from implant manufacturing—into the building blocks used to create new, circular products. Materials that were once considered unrecyclable are now being converted into valuable products.

This milestone builds on last year's launch of the Brightmark and Lewis Salvage partnership, which set out to improve healthcare plastics recyclability in the Warsaw region. Since then, the collaboration has expanded its impact, diverting even more difficult-to-recycle medical plastics from landfills and transforming them into valuable circular products.

About Brightmark
Brightmark LLC is a circular innovations company with a mission to Reimagine Waste, developing solutions that make a positive environmental impact on the world and communities where it operates. Brightmark's patented Plastics Renewal® technology and established anaerobic digestion projects make the company a leader in a burgeoning marketplace. The company implements solutions across sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation. These solutions are designed to displace reliance on virgin fossil fuels, solve circularity challenges at scale, and reduce waste.

Committed to creating circular innovations for waste, Brightmark works collaboratively to address gaps in waste management where traditional methods fall short through its innovative, closed-loop approach to recycling and renewables. To date, Brightmark has recycled over nine million pounds of landfill-bound plastics and reduced emissions by more than one million tons of CO2eq through anaerobic digestion. The company is also deeply committed to conservation, education, and sustainability career training by partnering with local and national organizations that help protect land and oceans. For more information, visit www.brightmark.com.

About Lewis Salvage
Lewis Salvage is a fourth-generation recycling company established in the early 1900s in Warsaw, Indiana. The company's operations encompass the purchase of scrap metals from the public and the provision of recycling services to local manufacturers. Lewis Salvage has also developed zero waste and specialized destruction recycling services, particularly catering to the orthopedic industry. Annually, the company recycles between 60 and 70 million pounds of material from all its customers. The company's long-standing tradition in the recycling industry, initiated by Abe Magazine and continued by Elmer Lewis and Mike Lewis, underscores its commitment to environmental sustainability. Cary purchased the business in 2023 from his parents, Mike and Rita Lewis.

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SOURCE Brightmark LLC