The first physical steps are now underway for construction of the 196-thousand square foot Agro-Renew bio-plastics manufacturing facility. The plant will locate on Elkhorn Road; its job is to turn produce waste into bio-based plastic pellets. Those pellets will then go to finishing plants, to be made into various products.
The whole process took around 16 months to get to this point. Agro-Renew founder Brian Southern admits he was a little surprised with the speed of the process. Southern states the construction will be in one phase, but the production process will be staged over the next few years.
Hiring will start in late summer, with the first positions for plant leadership, science, and engineering. The main plant workforce will be hired through the first quarter of 2025; by 2026, Agro-Renew expects 300 workers to be onsite.
Farmers across the area are also glad to see the use for their crop waste. They feel the use will lower methane release from fields from rotting plants.
