New "pre-recycling" technology addresses the 95% plastic waste problem plaguing American households nationwide.Clear Drop
American households face a staggering reality: Each family generates between 1,000 and 1,200 pounds of plastic waste every year. With soft plastics like bags, wrappers, and flexible packaging comprising a significant portion of this waste, and only 5% of all plastic waste actually getting recycled, the need for solutions has never been more urgent.
Clear Drop has launched its Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC), a home device that changes the way families handle soft plastic waste. This pre-recycling solution processes soft plastics directly at home, converting them into uniform blocks that are perfectly suited for storage, transport, and guaranteed recycling.
According to Ivan Arbouzov, founder of Clear Drop, the SPC is designed to handle most household flexible plastics, primarily high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and small amounts of expanded polyethylene (EPE). That includes items like shopping bags, food wrappers, bubble wrap, stretch film, zip lock and freezer bags, and soft shipping packaging.
"We recommend sticking to these common materials for best results," Arbouzov said. "Some plastics (like PET, PVC, PS/EPS, and biodegradable types such as PLA) aren't suitable, as they melt at different temperatures."
Moreover, Arbouzov noted that for recyclers, compacted blocks of uniform size and composition simplify handling and are easy to transport and store.
"They reduce the need for sorting and can be integrated directly into existing reprocessing lines, so processors don't need to adjust their quality requirements," he said. "The SPC-prepared material meets the same standards they already use, and in many cases, it's even cleaner than bulk post-consumer waste."
Closing the soft plastic recycling gap
"The current US recycling system isn't built to handle soft, flexible plastics -- they often jam sorting machines and slow down processing," explained David Nix, Clear Drop's recycling expert and a professor at the University of Pittsburgh. "By compacting them into dense blocks, Clear Drop's SPC turns this tricky waste into something easier for recycling facilities to manage."
The environmental benefits extend beyond easier processing. The SPC reduces the amount of air being shipped with waste materials, resulting in fewer transportation trips, lower emissions, and more efficient recycling that promotes a true circular economy.
The SPC leverages patented plastic softening technology that has undergone rigorous testing to ensure household safety. The device compresses soft plastic waste approximately 10 times more efficiently than traditional collection methods using bags, with the capacity to store roughly one month's worth of household waste.
Arbouzov also noted that companies are integrating the home-compacted soft plastic blocks into their existing recycling and reprocessing operations.
"One of our recycling partners, Frankfort Plastics, is processing the soft plastic blocks collected through Clear Drop and turning them back into raw material for new products, including things like outdoor furniture, industrial supplies, and more," Arbouzov said. "Nothing is landfilled or incinerated, not only for environmental reasons, but because there's real economic value in these compacted materials."
Energy efficiency
Operating quietly and efficiently, the SPC uses just 3.3 kWh per cycle, translating to approximately 52 cents per month in electricity costs for the average household. This minimal energy consumption makes sustainable waste management both accessible and affordable for families.
The company claims its technology can address 36 billion pounds of soft plastic waste generated annually in the US, and Arbouzov said that in the bigger picture, it redefines the recycler's role.
"Instead of managing waste at the end of its life, processors gain access to a steady, traceable input stream that starts at the household level," Arbouzov explained. "The SPC enables consistent material flows that can be integrated directly into production, streamlining the end-of-life process into a resource design system that drives the circular economy."
Arbouzov emphasizes the urgency of individual action in addressing the plastics crisis.
"We can't undo the plastic already in our bodies -- but we can stop the next piece of trash from polluting our planet," he stated. "Real change starts when each of us takes responsibility for our habits. At Clear Drop, we're making that possible by ensuring plastic waste is actually recycled and returned to the circular economy -- not left to blow in the wind, pile up in landfills, or harm our health."
Pre-recycling: A new waste management category
Clear Drop has coined the term "pre-recycling" to describe this innovative approach to waste management -- preparing materials for recycling right where they become waste. Unlike traditional methods, pre-recycling ensures materials are compacted and stored efficiently, cutting emissions and reducing sorting labor requirements.
By making waste denser, cleaner, and easier to handle from the point of generation, the SPC empowers households to take meaningful environmental action while supporting a healthier circular economy.
The SPC is now available through Clear Drop's $50 monthly plan, which includes installment payments for the device, recycling pickup services, and a comprehensive two-year warranty. Customers receive three prepaid mailers every quarter -- sufficient to recycle approximately one block per month -- with the flexibility to schedule pickups at their convenience.
This service model ensures that the transition from waste generation to actual recycling is seamless, making environmental responsibility both practical and achievable for American households ready to make a difference in the fight against plastic pollution.
Arbouzov said the SPC has the potential to create revenue streams for processors who specialize in flexible packaging materials.
"The curious situation is that recycling technologies are improving, but collection technologies are well behind," he said. "It's hard to believe that many plastic recyclers are struggling to secure a reliable source when there is so much wasted plastic. With a new way of collecting soft plastics/film, the reliability and quality of the stream itself, as well as its sheer volume, will create more specific channels of recycling. That means more dedicated recycling businesses will emerge and thrive on a steady supply."
Arbouzov pointed out that with about 131 million households in the US, small businesses, and other locations, there is significant market potential for this type of recycling option.
"Our goal is to have more than 100,000 units operating within three years, and we'll do everything in our power to make that number even higher," he concluded. "In 10 years, the pre-recycling concept -- in various forms, designs, and alliances -- should have a foothold in the majority of homes."