Alterra is an Akron-based technology innovator dedicated to solving plastic pollution. We use advanced recycling technologies to convert discarded plastics into valuable resources, helping reduce landfill dependence and support the transition to a circular economy that minimizes the need for virgin, fossil-derived materials. Founded in 2009 out of a small garage on S. Broadway in Akron, Alterra has grown into an industry leader employing more than 50 people between our advanced recycling facility and our downtown offices. We are proud to call Akron home and to contribute to both local job creation and global sustainability efforts.

At our facility, we divert more than 100,000 pounds of discarded plastics every day from landfills, incinerators, and the environment. These plastics are converted into a circular high-quality synthetic oil (our “Circular Oil”) that replaces virgin fossil-derived oil in the production of new plastics, chemicals, and other valuable products—keeping resources in circulation rather than wasted. 

According to Argonne National Laboratory, technologies like Alterra’s can achieve impressive environmental benefits compared to virgin fossil-based plastics: 

• 20%+ reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
• 65% reduction in fossil energy use
• 50% reduction in water use
• 116% reduction in solid waste

https://www.anl.gov/article/plastic-production-via-advanced-recycling-lowers-ghg-emissions  

Plastics make modern life possible—they are essential for medical devices that save lives, lightweight packaging that reduces food waste, durable parts in cars and planes that improve fuel efficiency, and countless everyday items like phones, clothing, and home insulation. However, nearly 90% of plastics are mismanaged—buried in landfills, sent to incinerators, or worse, they end up polluting our land, rivers, and oceans. Globally, more than 660 trillion pounds of plastic are discarded every year, creating an urgent environmental challenge. Alterra is solving plastic pollution by enabling true circularity for plastics. We convert discarded plastics back into their original building blocks using a technology called thermal liquefaction, or pyrolysis. Using this process, we are able to convert discarded plastics back into our Circular Oil; which, in turn, is used as a feedstock to make new plastics and other products. In this way, we are creating value for materials once seen as waste, keeping them out of the environment, and reducing the need for virgin fossil-based oil to replace what was discarded. In doing so, we help build a more sustainable future while supporting the global energy transition.

Every piece of plastic that does not end up as litter or in a landfill brings us closer to solving plastic pollution. Our technology takes plastics that traditional mechanical recycling cannot recycle – materials that would otherwise be burned, buried, or pollute our environment – and transforms them into valuable Circular Oil that can be used to make new products. By creating a meaningful end market for these plastics known as post-use polymers, we change how society views discarded materials: not as waste, but as a resource with endless, infinite potential. Converting plastics back into Circular Oil means they can be repurposed again and again, creating a true circular economy and keeping our environment cleaner for future generations.

Alterra provides a wide range of skilled, well-paying jobs that support both our advanced recycling operations and the broader Akron community. Our team includes roles in:

• Plant Operations: Technicians, operators, and maintenance staff who ensure the safe, reliable and efficient running of our facility.
• Engineering & Technology: Process engineers, project managers, safety specialists, and technical specialists working on continuous improvement and innovation.
• Logistics & Supply Chain: Professionals who coordinate the delivery and processing of plastics and outbound products.
• Business & Administrative Roles: Positions in management, finance, safety, compliance, and public/community outreach.

We are proud to be a Northcoast 99 winner and offer career growth opportunities, competitive wages, and professional training programs. Many of our leaders started in hands-on roles at the facility and have advanced into higher technical and managerial positions, reflecting our commitment to promoting from within.

Thermal liquefaction is the process of breaking down materials using heat, in the absence of oxygen, meaning no burning or combustion occurs. In Alterra’s process, discarded plastics are heated until they melt and their long polymer chains break apart into smaller molecules, forming gaseous vapors. Approximately 70–80% of these vapors are condensed into Circular Oil, which, in turn, can be used to make new plastics, chemicals, and other products. The remaining non-condensable gases can be captured and safely combusted to provide process heat, reducing the need for external energy sources like methane or natural gas. This approach promotes efficient energy use, and our pollution control devices ensure strict environmental controls.

No, we do not process waste, instead we pay for valuable plastics that have been removed from the waste stream, sorted, and densified for advanced recycling. These are materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, incinerators, or in the environment as litter.

No, our production process does not involve incineration, and there is absolutely no burning of plastics involved. In fact, it would be physically impossible because our reactor operates in a completely sealed, oxygen-free environment—no flame or combustion can occur within our thermal liquefaction process. Instead, we use carefully controlled heat to break long plastic molecules into shorter ones, creating valuable circular feedstocks that can be reused to make new plastics, chemicals, and other products. Our goal is to preserve and repurpose these molecules, not destroy them – we are incentivized to capture as many molecules as possible and turn them into a sellable product.

Alterra can process a wide range of post-use plastics, including many materials that curbside recycling programs do not currently accept. This includes:

• Flexible plastics and films, such as grocery bags, shrink wrap, and packaging films.
• Multi-layer packaging, like chip bags and pouches that combine different plastic types.
• Rigid plastics, including containers, lids, and other hard-to-recycle products.
• Plastics with additives or fillers, such as those with inks, dyes, or thin metallic layers.

Our focus is on plastics that have been collected, sorted, and densified by partners – materials that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated. By converting these plastics into circular feedstocks, we give them a new life as raw materials for making new plastics, chemicals, and other valuable products.

The Circular Oil produced at Alterra is a high-quality feedstock that re-enters the petrochemical supply chain to create new plastics, chemicals, and other valuable products. This Circular Oil is used by our partners—global leaders in plastics and chemicals—to replace virgin, fossil-derived oil.

This process helps:

• Reduce the need for new oil drilling, conserving natural resources.
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions vs. new drilling, as confirmed by studies from Argonne National Laboratories and other research groups.
• Promote true circularity, since plastics made from this Circular Oil can be recycled again and again, creating a closed loop rather than a linear “take-make-dispose” cycle.

By converting discarded plastics into Circular Oil, we turn what would have been waste into a resource, supporting a more sustainable economy and reducing plastic pollution.

The majority of what enters our process—about 70–80%—is converted into valuable Circular Oil that is reused to create new plastics, chemicals, and other products. An additional approximately 15% is converted into non-condensable gases (NCGs) which can be safely captured and used in our system to provide supplemental process heat, which reduces the need for external fuels like natural gas. However, as with any industrial process, there are some residual by-products:

• Solid residuals (about 5–10% of incoming plastics): These consist mainly of inorganic material (e.g., fillers, metallic layers, inks, dyes) and impurities like paper or food residue. These solids are non-hazardous and can be responsibly landfilled, used as an energy source, or even repurposed as additives for asphalt production.
• Filter residuals (about 0.7%): A small fraction of the solid residual is captured in filters (like your car oil filter) and contains trace hydrocarbons; therefore, it is classified as hazardous waste (RCRA Characteristic Waste, D018 – benzene) because laboratory testing has shown it can leach benzene at concentrations above the federal regulatory threshold of 0.5 ppm. It is carefully collected and sent to licensed facilities for safe incineration, similar to how hospitals or chemical plants manage their small hazardous streams. We are actively working to eliminate even this 0.7% residual stream in our next-generation plant design.

Yes, we are committed to transparency in demonstrating the environmental benefits of our technology. A recent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), conducted in alignment with internationally recognized ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006 standards, evaluated the greenhouse gas impact of our thermal liquefaction process.

The study compared Circular Oil – produced from discarded plastics – as a replacement for refined fossil-derived oil at existing petrochemical plants. The study found that Circular Oil delivers a 79% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂ equivalent) compared to the conventional refining process.
It is important to note that in the U.S., only about 15–20% of plastic waste is incinerated, with the majority still landfilled. By contrast, in other regions such as the European Union, incineration rates are double or triple this figure, which significantly increases the comparative greenhouse gas reduction benefit of Alterra’s technology in those markets.

Ultimately, this LCA underscores the transformative role advanced recycling can play in building a circular economy for plastics. By turning discarded plastics into high-quality circular synthetic oil, Alterra’s technology enables existing infrastructure to reduce emissions, conserve resources, and move the industry closer to the shared goal of solving plastic pollution.

Air emissions are gases or tiny particles released into the air from sources, such as vehicles, homes, or industrial operations—everything from cooking at home to driving a car produces emissions. At Alterra, the air emissions from our process are extremely low and carefully controlled using advanced environmental systems.

Alterra’s Akron plant is heavily regulated at the federal, state, and local levels, similar to other chemical manufacturing facilities. We operate under the United States Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and other stringent requirements, with oversight from the Ohio EPA and the Akron Regional Air Quality Management District. Since our commissioning in 2015, Alterra has continuously operated with a valid air permit issued by the Ohio EPA—a permit that requires rigorous regulatory review, emissions testing, and regular reporting.

Our commitment is simple: operate responsibly, maintain emissions well within strict limits, and ensure that our work benefits both the community and the environment

No. Alterra operates under a minor source air permit issued by the Ohio EPA, and our emissions are well below the thresholds that would classify us as a major source. Independent testing confirms our operations remain safe for employees, neighbors, and the community.

HAPs (hazardous air pollutants) are a list of pollutants identified by the U.S. EPA that can pose risks to health or the environment if not properly managed.

VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are organic chemicals that can easily evaporate into the air due to their high vapor pressure—examples include substances found in paints, cleaning supplies, and vehicle exhaust.

At Alterra, we have advanced controls in place to capture and minimize emissions of both HAPs and VOCs, ensuring they remain well below strict regulatory limits. We operate under a minor source permit, meaning our total emissions are far below thresholds that would require major-source classification. Our facility is routinely monitored and audited by the Ohio EPA and local air quality authorities, and we use proven technologies to reduce emissions and protect the surrounding community’s air quality.

A stack test is a rigorous procedure used to measure the pollutants emitted from a facility’s exhaust stack to verify compliance with environmental regulations. These tests are performed by accredited third-party experts using EPA-approved methods to ensure accuracy and often times witnessed by an EPA official. Stack testing confirms that our facility meets or exceeds all air quality standards, protecting public health, the environment, and providing the data required to maintain our permits.

Alterra conducts stack testing as required by the Ohio EPA, and our results consistently demonstrate emissions well within permitted limits.

Alterra’s operations have a smaller environmental footprint than many traditional industrial facilities. We operate under a minor source air permit, meaning our emissions are far below the thresholds that would classify us as a major source. Independent analyses, including a report from Good Company, show that advanced recycling facilities like ours typically have:

• VOC and particulate emissions similar to or lower than small food processing plants,
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions comparable to hospitals or universities, and
• Carbon monoxide (CO) emissions similar to or lower than those from automotive manufacturing operations.

We also go beyond standard requirements by conducting frequent monitoring, third-party testing, and rigorous process safety programs to ensure we maintain a clean, safe, and well-regulated facility. Unlike many older industrial plants, Alterra is a 21st-century operation built to meet or exceed modern environmental and safety standards.

No. Alterra does not produce hazardous waste that impacts our community. A very small fraction (about 0.7% of the material we process) is classified as hazardous only because, in a laboratory test, it can leach benzene above the federal threshold if hypothetically placed in a landfill. It does not pose any immediate risk to the community. It is carefully collected and sent to licensed facilities for safe incineration – similar to how hospitals or chemical plants manage their small hazardous streams.

Yes. Employee safety is our top priority, and Alterra maintains multiple layers of monitoring, testing, and preventive safeguards to ensure a safe workplace. Independent testing has consistently shown that air quality around our facility is well below OSHA’s safety limits, and no leaks have ever been detected during monthly certified inspections.

Alterra is deeply committed to being a positive and active member of the Akron community. We regularly engage with local schools and community organizations to educate and inspire future leaders about sustainability and advanced recycling. Our community initiatives include:

• Educational tours and presentations for schools and universities demonstrate how advanced recycling works and how it supports a circular economy.
• Partnerships with local organizations and events, supporting initiatives that promote environmental awareness and STEM education.
• Open dialogue with community members, including public meetings, plant tours, and direct Q&A opportunities to build trust and transparency.
• Job creation and workforce development, offering local residents skilled, well-paying career opportunities and hands-on training.

We believe that solving plastic pollution starts with collaboration and education, and we are proud to help Akron transition toward becoming the “Sustainable Polymer Capital of the World.”

Under Ohio law, advanced recycling is classified as a manufacturing process – not a solid waste, disposal, or waste-to-energy operation. Alterra’s facilities are regulated like other manufacturers for air, water, waste, and land use. ORC 3734.01.

Advanced recycling is defined as a manufacturing process that converts post-use polymers (sorted plastics intended for recycling) and recovered feedstocks into raw materials, chemicals, and new recycled products. Technologies include pyrolysis, gasification, depolymerization, catalytic cracking, reforming, hydrogenation, and solvolysis. Importantly, incineration and waste-to-energy are explicitly excluded from this definition.

Alterra uses post-use polymers and recovered feedstocks – plastics sorted from household, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sources that are not mixed with solid or hazardous waste and are intended for recycling, not disposal.

Alterra participates in third-party certification systems like International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) to track recycled content. This internationally recognized system verifies that advanced recycling feedstocks are accurately allocated to recycled products, ensuring environmental and consumer trust.

The process produces Circular Oil, circular feedstocks in the form of liquid raw materials that can replace fossil-derived naphtha, waxes, or other inputs in chemical and plastics manufacturing. These outputs meet Ohio’s definition of “recycled plastic.”