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Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor Pilot Program...
Introduction Initiated during the 2025-2026 academic school year, Green Group Consulting conducted the first Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) flexible film recycling pilot program at the University of Pittsburgh. Green Group...
Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor Pilot Program at the University of Pittsburgh, by Green Group Consulting
Introduction Initiated during the 2025-2026 academic school year, Green Group Consulting conducted the first Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) flexible film recycling pilot program at the University of Pittsburgh. Green Group collected data on SPC usage and output to develop this preliminary case study on the use of the Clear Drop SPC in university systems. Background Flexible plastic film and other soft plastics are considered hard-to-recycle materials because they cannot be sorted or consolidated without specialized equipment that most materials' recovery facilities (MRFs) do not have. This limitation arises because, when conveyed at the MRFs alongside rigid recyclables, the film wraps around rotating shafts and pulleys, creating tangles that twist into “ropes” requiring manual removal. Flexible plastic film obstructs the sorting system as tangles occur. There is also the issue of small plastic pieces such as pouch size packages that don’t convey well through any recycling system and find their way to the landfill, or worse, the environment. These challenges are particularly significant for entities and jurisdictions that must meet recycling targets. In states such as California and Oregon, where new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws mandate recycling goals for hard-to-recycle materials, solutions that increase diversion are critical. Universities and hospitals are especially well suited to test these solutions. As self-contained ecosystems, they generate a high volume of flexible film waste, maintain existing recycling infrastructure that a pilot can plug into and typically operate under institutional sustainability goals that call for increasing recycling rates and reducing waste-to-landfill. Green Group and Clear Drop identified this combination of characteristics as ideal for piloting a diversion solution: the Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor. Clear Drop The Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor uses compression and heat to condense high-density and lowdensity polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and expanded polyethylene (EPE)1 into lightweight blocks that can be more easily transported and recycled. As a smaller, consumer-targeted unit, it is effective at diverting common household flexible films, such as plastic wrap and shopping bags; that would otherwise be discarded. Small items, like the much-maligned PP straw, also work well in the SPC. Figure 1: Clear Drop SPC In individual form, these flexible films become tangled in sortation equipment or removed for landfill. Once condensed into block form, however, they convey as a single rigid item that can be transported without additional wrapping. In principle, they can then be sorted like any other rigid PE or PP plastics collected through curbside programs. Figure 2: Feeding material into SPC unit Green Group Consulting Green Group Consulting conducted the pilot program on behalf of Clear Drop to evaluate the operational realities of deploying the SPC in real-world settings. The firm’s experience in plastics and recycling made it well suited to design such a program. As Clear Drop’s recycling industry-expert, Green Group was already familiar with the company’s goals and products. Green Group has established connections with research institutions across the country and, in the course of its work, has gained insight into the recycling needs of non-residential entities, particularly university and healthcare systems. Green Group identified the University of Pittsburgh as a prime candidate for launching the pilot program because of their commitment to sustainability and expressed interest in solutions for reducing laboratory single-use plastic packaging waste. The University of Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh enrolls approximately 35,000 students and is one of the largest employers in the state of Pennsylvania. As a sustainability-focused campus, it maintains 61 sustainability goals, one of which is to reduce landfilled materials by 25% by 2030. With over 2,000 laboratories, the University produces a substantial volume of single-use plastic waste, including flexible film and soft plastics. This post-consumer waste was previously sent directly to landfill. Beyond laboratories, single-use plastics are found across campus, including in bookstores, cafeterias, and student residence halls. The University has partnered with other organizations to divert laboratory waste from landfill. This program offered an expansion to that initiative in addition to the opportunity to capture consumer flexible films across other campus locations. Pilot Program Objectives and Design The overall objective of the pilot program was to test the SPC units in real-world settings. This included collecting data on the types of materials fed into the units, how different groups and locations use them, the quantities of material generated, and how block and bale quantities and composition compare across locations. The first step was to establish the process and infrastructure for collection. Green Group worked with the sustainability director and surplus property management to integrate the SPC program into the University’s existing recycling programs. Because the surplus team already made weekly rounds collecting and delivering items such as desks, bookshelves, and chairs, the SPC collection was readily incorporated into their existing routine. For collection, the University provided the pallet and gaylord, and Clear Drop provided a label for the gaylord to clearly define its contents. Once created, the blocks were stacked at each location for weekly collection by the Surplus Property team and consolidated in a warehouse using the specially marked gaylord. The University of Pittsburgh then coordinated with a collection team for final delivery to a verified recycling partner. The next step was to establish suitable testing locations across the university campus. Green Group worked with the University of Pittsburgh sustainability office to identify ideal locations for consumer flexible film collection. The SPC accepts HDPE, LDPE, (PP), and EPE. Common consumer items include plastic mailer bags, shopping bags, stretch wrap, freezer and zip-lock bags, and some food wrappers. Because cleaner material is preferable for reprocessors, ideal locations generate a high volume of single-use flexible film packaging. Locations were selected using the following criteria: High output of primarily LDPE, HDPE and/or PP film and flexible plastic Material is small enough to fit in SPC (not warehouse pallet wrap, etc.) Minimum walkthrough traffic with limited or no public access Staff members available to champion the effort and monitor the units Users can be trained An established team lead to coordinate collection and pickup Figure 4: SPC at the University Store Because the health and sciences departments generate a high proportion of clean, single-use packaging, Green Group recommended priority placement in laboratories and stockrooms. Five initial SPC units were installed across campus in October. Two more were added in April 2026 and one in June. Two additional units will be delivered in August as the program expands. The initial placement was in Biomedical Science Towers 2, Clapp Hall Laboratory, Dietrich School Scientific Stockroom, Pitt Surplus, and the Public Health Building. Faculty and staff at each location volunteered to champion and run the program, with limited to no student access. This limited untrained user error. SITE LOCATIONS Athletic Equipment Room BioScience Towers Clapp Hall Dietrich School Scientific Stockroom Pitt Surplus Public Health University Store Figure 3: University of Pittsburgh Campus SPC Locations The majority of selected sites are all receiving and/or stockroom locations and process all packages shipped to their buildings. Public Health is unique in that the entire building technically has access to the basement recycling collection bin, but only one staff member oversees running and making blocks. Clapp Hall is championed by two professors making blocks from teaching labs. The SPC in the Biomedical Science Tower 2 is being fed by multiple labs, but again only one person has access to the machine.Green Group met with University of Pittsburgh staff to conduct a one-on-one onboarding session and to review the testing protocol. The Clear Drop team provided an onboarding packet that included a quickstart guide, manual and FAQ. Clear Drop also supplied signage for above and around the SPC, along with instructional stickers, including a QR code, on the top of each unit. Figure 5: Clear Drop Signage Composition Assessment Methodology Green Group established a quarterly quality review process and collected a sample of two blocks per location in February, May and July 2026. Test blocks are randomly selected from each location and each block evaluated by composition, weight and formation. The primary materials in each block were graded for quality (cleanliness and correct resin type) on an A – F scale prior to weighing. Block formation was also graded on an A - F scale. The higher the content of LDPE, HDPE and PP in the block without non-plastic contamination, metallized film and minimal unpopped bubble wrap the better. The “average” of the two A - F scale points added to the average weight multiplied by the number of blocks collected achieved the ranking. Results From the start of the trial in October 2025 through May 2026, 117 blocks were produced and reported. At an average of 3 lb per block, this represents 351 lb of soft plastic diverted from landfill. If a single laboratory averages 20 blocks, or 60 lb of recycled plastic, over six months, and the University operates 2,000 laboratories, the institution could potentially divert 240,000 lb, or 120 tons, of plastic each year. The individual results for four of the initial five locations are summarized in Table 1. The most observed materials fed into the SPC were LDPE envelopes, bags, and film packaging from deliveries and store purchases. This accounted for approximately two-thirds of total block composition. The next most common category was outer food-storage packaging, such as bread bags and zip-lock bags, followed by bubble wrap and HDPE grocery bags. Discussion Over the course of the trial, preliminary findings and supporting data for the study’s hypotheses have emerged. The results to date indicate that the SPC unit is easy to use once operators are trained in proper usage. Only one issue was reported (a software malfunction) which was promptly resolved when Clear Drop delivered a replacement unit. Green Group also received qualitative feedback from users, summarized in our recommendations. Green Group hypothesized that a smaller, consistent group, one without the semester-to-semester turnover of a rotating student population, supported by a team lead who can train users and a steady flow of materials would perform best. This hypothesis appears to be supported by the scores from the Biomedical Science Towers and the Dietrich School Scientific Stockroom. Table 1: Summary of Results by Location Location Total Blocks Collected Characteristics Average Weight (lbs) Average Ranking Biomedical Science Towers 29 Monolayer packaging(LLDPE/LDPE)Stretch wrap 2.97 A Dietrich School Scientific Stockroom 49 Bubble wrap (LDPE)Green netting (PP)Stretch wrap 2.69 B+ Pitt Surplus 10 Bubble wrap (LDPE)Green netting (PP)Clear baggies(LLDPE/LDPE)Aluminum coated film (Mix)Multilayer packaging (Mix) 3.51 B Public Health Clinic 25 Big bubble wrap (LDPE)Film (LLDPE/LDPE)Grocery bags (HDPE) 2.67 C+ The study would be enhanced by running a chemical analysis of blocks from different sources. For this phase of the study, chemical testing was not included. Additional data on weight, material input, and material quality will further inform decision-making. Likewise, additional locations paired with more consistent usage tracking would clarify which sites are best suited for the SPC, both in terms of output and from a training and operator perspective. The ideal long-term scenario would deploy SPC units across all university consumer-generated and laboratory waste streams, with the resulting blocks baled alongside warehouse flexible films. Economically, handling un-densified quantities of small film is impractical, as collecting and transporting it (even with possible sortation) is more expensive. Green Group solicited user feedback and received the following suggestions for improving the machine: Wider aperture for feeding Carry handles integrated into the housing Button or button press combination to manually run a compacting cycle to gauge fullness Failing the last suggestion, some way to more reliably check fullness When adding plastic in bulk by opening the lid, it is difficult to close the lid and keep all plastic tucked in safely if the unit is more than half full Some sort of semi-firm spatula-like tool to clean bits of plastic from the inside of the hopper Limitations of Pilot While the sample size is reasonable for a trial in the early stages, it is not a truly randomized trial. Therefore, the scope of this trial is limited in nature. The number of sites may limit generalizations that can be made to predict success on various trial characteristics. Expanded research such as chemical analysis and block characterization statistics were not included and can be conducted in further phases of the study to finalize conclusions. As there were selected sites full deployment across all waste streams hasn't been tested, assumptions made need larger assessment to confirm. Hardware recommendations regarding data and usability need to be considered and retested if a further version of unit is developed. Green Group suggests standardized data collection, expansion to more/diverse sites, implementation of hardware fixes, and to pilot larger-scale deployment. Conclusion Any effective recycling program depends on three critical components: (1) effective education/training, (2) consistent collection infrastructure, and (3) a reliable processor and end market. The most straightforward component of this pilot was the initial outreach and education on how to use the SPC unit. The unit is easy to use, and once installed, problems are rarely encountered. With wider implementation of the unit, there will be greater need for education in uncontrolled environments. Securing a consistent collection infrastructure was also straightforward. The University of Pittsburgh proved an excellent partner in this regard, and Green Group worked with its team to integrate pickup and drop-off into the University’s existing infrastructure. Securing a consistent collection infrastructure was also straightforward. The University of Pittsburgh proved an excellent partner in this regard, and Green Group worked with its team to integrate pickup and drop-off into the University’s existing infrastructure. The most significant near-term challenge is securing end markets for a start-up program. Film recyclers prefer to receive full truckloads (35,000–42,000 lb.), which Clear Drop could accommodate once the machines become commonplace. MRFs would most likely be willing to accept the blocks curbside if they have a viable customer base. Film that ends up at a MRF today is typically landfilled because it has historically been too contaminated and difficult for U.S. processors to handle; consequently, the blocks currently have no natural home at a MRF. Green Group anticipates that, as more SPC units are adopted, the infrastructure for recycling blocks will scale accordingly. This pilot study indicates that the SPC unit supports EPR compliance, more tailored studies can expound on this to determine further impact for responsible producers. Green Group looks forward to continuing its work with Clear Drop and the University of Pittsburgh to collect valuable design feedback for future iterations and expand testing and infrastructure, diverting even more flexible film from landfill. Acknowledgements and Information Special thanks to our partners at the University of Pittsburgh for participating in this case study. Interested in bringing a flexible film recycling pilot to your campus or community, or other recycling topics? Reach out to greengroupconsulting.com. Learn more about living a Zero Trash ® Lifestyle with Clear Drop at onecleardrop.com.
Atlantic Health Demonstrates Diversion of One T...
Single-use plastic waste is one of the most persistent challenges facing healthcare facilities today. Atlantic Health partnered with Clear Drop to pilot the Soft Plastic Compactor in their hospital pharmacy...
Atlantic Health Demonstrates Diversion of One Ton of Plastic Waste Annually with SPC
Single-use plastic waste is one of the most persistent challenges facing healthcare facilities today. Atlantic Health partnered with Clear Drop to pilot the Soft Plastic Compactor in their hospital pharmacy — and the results exceeded expectations. The potential for annual soft plastic waste diversion is not only substantial but also higher than we anticipated. 550–600 soft plastic med bags discarded daily from a single pharmacy 2,184 lbs of soft plastic diverted from landfill per hospital annually 1.09 tons plastic waste diverted per year — from just one pharmacy location Introduction Atlantic Health operates the nationally renowned Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center, one of eight hospitals across their system serving the Northern New Jersey region. As part of their "Greening the Pharmacy" program, the hospital sought innovative solutions to address the environmental impact of their pharmacy operations. The Waste Problem The main pharmacy at Atlantic Health Morristown processes hundreds of patient medication transfers daily, generating substantial amounts of soft plastic medical bags. With no viable recycling pathway in Northern NJ, these bags were being sent directly to landfill. Key Pain Points High waste volume: 550–600 plastic med bags discarded every day.No recycling pathway: Soft plastics have extremely limited recycling options in the Northern NJ region — making landfill diversion a real challenge without the right technology. Project Goals The "Greening the Pharmacy" pilot program aimed to test whether soft plastic diversion at scale was operationally feasible in a live hospital environment. Pilot Objectives Assess the feasibility of recycling medical plastic bags at volume Quantify waste diversion potential at facility and system-wide levels Evaluate workflow integration without creating medication delivery bottlenecks Test the Clear Drop SPC technology in a real-world healthcare environment The Soft Plastic Compactor Solution The SPC was deployed to process patient transfer medication bags — soft plastic bags used to deliver pharmaceuticals to patients. These bags contain no medical waste or bodily fluids, making them a clean and viable plastic recycling stream. The SPC transforms loose, bulky medical plastic bags into dense, compact blocks through a proprietary compression process. Completed blocks can be shipped efficiently to Clear Drop's recycling partners. How the workflow operated Pharmacy technicians brought all emptied patient-transfer med bags to a designated collection point in the main pharmacy. Bags were transported to a separate on-site building twice per day. The SPC compacted approximately 250–320 bags per batch — producing one 6-pound block per daily cycle in approximately one hour. Completed blocks were packaged in Clear Drop-provided bags with pre-printed labels, with up to five blocks shipped per bag. Results: Waste Diversion Impact The one-week pilot at Morristown Medical Center's main pharmacy demonstrated clear and measurable results.When extrapolated across Atlantic Health's multi-hospital system, the potential for waste diversion becomes even more substantial. Daily 550–600 medication bags processed through the SPC Weekly 7 compacted blocks produced, totaling 42 pounds of plastic diverted Annually 2,184 lbs (1.09 tons) of soft plastic waste diverted per hospital — every year The SPC pilot successfully demonstrated that we could make a meaningful environmental impact without overhauling our entire pharmacy operation. Diverting 2,184 pounds of plastic annually from just one pharmacy shows the potential for system-wide implementation. Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center Pharmacy Team Findings and Key Success Factors The pilot successfully demonstrated that healthcare facilities can meaningfully reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining full operational efficiency. What made it work Workflow integration: The SPC fit naturally into existing pharmacy operations with minimal disruption Quantifiable impact: SPC block output enables clear reporting toward sustainability goals Scalability: The process can expand to satellite med rooms and be replicated across multiple hospital pharmacies within the system Operational best practices: The pilot identified optimal SPC placement in areas with adequate ventilation, and controlled feeding (rather than bulk loading) for best compression results Strategic Implications for Atlantic Health With multiple hospitals in the Atlantic Health network, system-wide implementation could divert several tons of soft plastic waste annually. This aligns with healthcare sustainability imperatives while potentially reducing waste hauling costs and demonstrating environmental leadership in the healthcare sector. The pilot also revealed opportunities for broader collaboration — expanding beyond pharmacy to other hospital departments generating soft plastic waste, and sharing best practices with other healthcare systems facing similar challenges. Bring Medical Plastic Recycling to Your Healthcare Facility Atlantic Health's successful pilot positions them as a leader in healthcare sustainability innovation. The program demonstrates that with the right technology and commitment, hospitals can transform a persistent waste stream into an environmental success story — one med bag at a time. Atlantic Health continues to evaluate expansion opportunities across their hospital network as part of their ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and operational excellence. Ready to start a pilot at your facility? Clear Drop® partners with hospitals and healthcare systems to reduce soft plastic waste with measurable, meaningful results. Contact Our Team → Learn More About the Process →
UCSF Health's Mission Bay Hospital Achieves Gua...
Healthcare facilities generate massive amounts of plastic waste daily, and California's ambitious sustainability goals are pushing institutions to find innovative solutions. UCSF Health partnered with Clear Drop to pilot the...
UCSF Health's Mission Bay Hospital Achieves Guaranteed Recycling of Pharmacy Soft Plastic Waste with Clear Drop SPC
Healthcare facilities generate massive amounts of plastic waste daily, and California's ambitious sustainability goals are pushing institutions to find innovative solutions. UCSF Health partnered with Clear Drop to pilot the Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) at their Mission Bay hospital pharmacy, testing whether clear medication bags—a persistent waste stream with no traditional recycling pathway—could be successfully diverted from landfills. UCSF Health operates Mission Bay Hospital, a premier academic medical center in San Francisco, recognized for excellence in specialized patient care and medical innovation. As California leads the nation in environmental policy with a goal to achieve 75% waste diversion by 2025, UCSF Health has embraced sustainability as a core institutional value. UCSF Health's sustainability team launched a 90-day pilot program to evaluate whether the Clear Drop SPC could turn a problematic waste stream into measurable environmental progress. The Challenge UCSF Mission Bay's pharmacy handles complex medication protocols for hospital patients, resulting in hundreds of clear plastic medication bags being discarded daily, with zero recycling infrastructure available. Pain Points Driving the Pilot: Volume without solutions: Several hundred clear med bags discarded daily with no recycling pathway California compliance pressure: State guidelines encouraging measurable waste diversion progress Staff frustration: Pharmacy team wanted to participate in sustainability but had no viable option for soft plastic Pilot Objectives Validate the real-world feasibility of the SPC in demanding clinical workflows Measure actual diversion to project annual impact Identify workflow friction points Capture user experience and staff satisfaction Soft Plastic Compactor Solution What Gets Processed The SPC at Mission Bay processed clear medication bags plus limited quantities of bubble wrap and plastic packaging from pharmaceutical supply deliveries. Through heat and compression, the SPC transforms bulky plastic into dense blocks that ship efficiently to Clear Drop's recycling partners. Placement and Users The SPC was installed directly within the Mission Bay pharmacy, ensuring pharmacy technicians could access it without disrupting medication preparation workflows. This convenient placement proved critical to staff adoption. Workflow Development Through the 90-day pilot, the Mission Bay team refined their process: Collection: Staff placed emptied medication bags in a designated collection bin within the pharmacy workspace. Loading: Team members fed collected plastic into the SPC unit throughout the day. Processing: The SPC ran its automatic compression cycle (~20 minutes compaction, ~40-60 minutes cooling). Block Removal: Once cooled, staff removed completed blocks and placed them in Clear Drop-provided shipping bags. Operational Discoveries The Hand-Feeding Advantage Early in the pilot, staff experimented with bulk loading, which interrupted workflow and sometimes produced blocks with inconsistent density. The team discovered that hand-feeding plastic produced consistently dense, well-formed blocks. This became standard practice and was ultimately integrated efficiently within the team’s workflow. The Cooling Cycle Challenge When blocks were forming, staff occasionally defaulted to throwing plastic in the trash. The team identified that assigning a dedicated staff member to remove completed blocks immediately would free up the SPC faster and prevent trash diversion during busy periods. "Staff liked using it, felt good saving soft plastic and saving the earth."— Jennifer Chu, CPhT, Pharmacy Operations Technician Supervisor, UCSF Health Results: 90 Days of Diversion The Mission Bay pilot delivered quantifiable environmental impact: Total blocks produced: 90 blocks, ~1 block per day Total plastic diverted: 372 pounds Projected annual diversion: 1,526 pounds (0.76 tons) per year from one pharmacy Room for Growth The Mission Bay team noted that actual diversion could climb higher with process refinement. Implementing dedicated block removal could capture more material and increase throughput during peak waste generation periods. "We could generate more blocks by assigning someone to remove the block once it is done."— Isabel Navarrete, Sustainability Analyst, UCSF Health Key Findings and Path Forward The 90-day Mission Bay pilot proved that hospital pharmacies can successfully divert soft plastic waste at scale while maintaining clinical operations. What Worked: Staff buy-in: Pharmacy team sustained positive engagement across 90 days Measurable impact: 372 pounds diverted provides concrete data for California sustainability reporting Process learning: Hand-feeding identified as optimal technique for block quality Continued commitment: Mission Bay pharmacy expressed interest in continuing SPC use beyond the pilot Strategic Value for UCSF Health: Rolling out SPCs across UCSF Health's pharmacy network could divert multiple tons of soft plastic annually, directly supporting California's waste reduction mandates. The Mission Bay pilot provides the operational blueprint: Deploy SPCs in pharmacies across UCSF Medical Centers Apply operational best practices from day one Expand beyond central pharmacies to satellite medication areas Share learnings with other California healthcare systems Looking Ahead UCSF Mission Bay's successful pilot establishes them as a California healthcare sustainability leader. The pharmacy team's enthusiasm for continuing SPC use—paired with measurable results and optimization opportunities—demonstrates that this solution delivers both environmental benefits and staff satisfaction. The insights gained provide a proven roadmap for expanding soft plastic recycling across UCSF Health's hospital network, helping California's premier academic medical center meet aggressive state waste diversion goals while transforming a persistent waste stream into environmental progress—one med bag at a time. Bring Medical Plastic Recycling to Your Healthcare Facility Clear Drop® partners with hospitals and healthcare systems to reduce soft plastic waste with measurable results. Contact our team UCSF Health continues to evaluate expansion opportunities across its hospital network as part of its ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and California's sustainability leadership.
How the Shaw Institute Successfully Started to ...
The Shaw Institute in Blue Hill, Maine, is a respected nonprofit research organization studying the impact of contaminants, including PFAS chemicals and microplastics — on human and environmental health. Their...
How the Shaw Institute Successfully Started to Recycle Laboratory Soft Plastic Waste for the First Time with SPC
The Shaw Institute in Blue Hill, Maine, is a respected nonprofit research organization studying the impact of contaminants, including PFAS chemicals and microplastics — on human and environmental health. Their work is regularly published in leading scientific journals and covered by international media. The institute also operates an Environmental Education Center (EEC) featuring aquariums, marine mammal skeletons, and hands-on ocean exploration exhibits. Like most laboratories, the Shaw Institute generates significant quantities of clean polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) soft plastic waste from daily research operations — including packaging from lab tools, sampling supplies, and delivery materials. According to the U.S. EPA, most municipal programs do not accept soft plastics, meaning nearly all of this material historically went to landfills. To address this challenge, the Shaw Institute became one of the first research laboratories in the U.S. to pilot the Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) — an on-site, lab-friendly solution designed specifically for soft plastic recycling. UNEP research highlights how important innovations like this are for managing flexible plastics responsibly. Why the Shaw Institute Chose the Clear Drop SPC Before implementing the SPC, staff had no practical way to recycle common laboratory soft plastics, including: polyethylene baggies and protective films bubble wrap and cushioning packaging sterile wrap and supply pouches other clean PE and PP packaging from lab operations “We were looking for proven technology that could help us deal with the soft plastic problem in our lab and beyond,” explains Dr. Charlie Rolsky, Executive Director and Lead Research Scientist. “We're excited to pilot Clear Drop’s SPC device as part of our 2025 internal sustainability efforts. It offers a much-needed solution for improving our ability to recycle the soft plastic waste generated by our lab work.” The Clear Drop SPC was selected because it: compresses clean soft plastics into dense, stackable blocks ready for certified recyclers requires minimal space and no heat or chemicals works precisely with PE and PP waste produced in labs supports the institute’s mission to reduce plastic pollution and “practice what they preach” A detailed technical explanation of the device’s operation is available here. Implementation and First-Month Results The SPC was installed directly inside the laboratory — the primary source of soft plastic waste. Staff received training on cleaning, sorting, and feeding materials into the compactor. The installation required no facility modifications and integrated smoothly into daily workflows. In the first month alone: 6 dense blocks of clean soft plastic waste were compacted and prepared for recycling 5 staff members plus several volunteers became regular SPC users The device operated safely and consistently in an active research environment The SPC quickly became an effective tool for reducing landfill-bound laboratory plastics and improving internal sustainability practices. Expansion Beyond the Lab Although the initial goal was laboratory waste reduction, the pilot expanded naturally as staff recognized the device’s capabilities: Soft plastics from the Environmental Education Center (EEC) are now collected and processed Employees began bringing clean PE/PP soft plastics from home Once per week, the SPC is moved to a public EEC exhibit, where visitors can observe the compression process and learn about soft plastic circularity This turned the SPC into both a practical waste-management device and a hands-on educational resource, supporting the institute’s public outreach mission. Early Community Interest (Next-Phase Potential) Building on the success of the internal pilot, the Shaw Institute is now exploring the idea of serving as a temporary community drop-off point where local residents can bring clean soft plastics for guaranteed recycling. While still in planning, this potential expansion aligns naturally with visitor engagement and mirrors other pilot models implemented by Clear Drop. Key Benefits Realized by the Shaw Institute First-ever ability to recycle laboratory soft plastic waste on-site Significant progress toward near-zero-waste lab and facility operations Strong alignment between the institute’s research mission and daily sustainability practices A new educational tool demonstrating real-world soft plastic recycling Proven, low-maintenance technology suitable for research organizations of any size The Shaw Institute pilot demonstrates that even small scientific institutions can successfully implement soft plastic recycling programs with the right equipment. For laboratories seeking a reliable, lab-safe, ready-to-deploy solution, the Clear Drop SPC offers measurable results and immediate environmental impact. Explore the SPC here.
How Geekdom sparked early wins in soft plastic ...
Geekdom is a cornerstone of San Antonio’s startup and innovation ecosystem. Spread across four floors in a prominent downtown building, it houses approximately 40 startups and plays host to a...
How Geekdom sparked early wins in soft plastic recovery with the Clear Drop's SPC
Geekdom is a cornerstone of San Antonio’s startup and innovation ecosystem. Spread across four floors in a prominent downtown building, it houses approximately 40 startups and plays host to a steady calendar of events: game jams, hackathons, seminars, and tech conferences. It’s the epicenter of the city’s entrepreneurial and venture community. Like many innovation hubs, Geekdom grapples with high volumes of everyday office & food packaging waste. Prior to the pilot, there was no structured process to recover or reduce this plastic waste stream. Pilot goals: Understand employee interest and engagement around soft plastic recycling Measure volume and speed of soft plastic accumulation Evaluate SPC’s role in supporting Geekdom’s broader sustainability and community values Approach Geekdom saw potential in the SPC’s ability to foster a shared community action around sustainability. The device was installed in a common area used by many different startup teams throughout the day, encouraging collaborative stewardship. The pilot was supported by custom signage near the kitchen/break room, table tents on community tables, and direct email outreach to all staff and tenants coordinated with Geekdom’s operations team. Geekdom staff even made their own signage :) Metrics: 1 SPC deployed 2 full soft plastic blocks created in under 2 months Employee participation was tracked qualitatively through conversations and visual observation Improvements are now in the works after receiving awesome critical feedback from staff on signage and the device’s instant recognizability as a recycling device. Materials inserted: Mailers and plastic wrappers from startup equipment Grocery bags, sandwich wrappers, and snack packaging from shared lunches Miscellaneous soft film plastics found around events “As someone who loves to recycle I want this in my home! It’s so easy to use, and gives me a way to recycle what is normally trash” - Julez Perez. Summary Geekdom views the SPC not just as a waste solution but as a community-building tool. In just two weeks, tenants filled a full block with soft plastics, demonstrating both engagement and the real waste footprint of a single floor. The operations team is now in deeper conversations with ClearDrop to potentially expand the pilot to multiple floors. Their slow-roll strategy allows for organic feedback and culture-based insights, helping refine messaging and product design while reinforcing Geekdom’s mission to lead in innovation and sustainability.
