Florida Opens First Industrial Food De-Packaging Facility in Vero Beach

Previously, manufacturers and retailers across the state faced few options beyond sending compromised goods to incinerators or landfills. The Vero Beach site changes that by processing over 600 tons of material per week. The system strips packaging away for recycling while diverting the remaining organic matter to a co-located composting site, where it is transformed into soil amendments and mulch.

This infrastructure plays a role in Circular Services' broader network, which maintains processing sites in Tampa, Sarasota, Lee County, and Palm Beach. By creating a closed-loop system, the company aims to reduce the overhead costs associated with waste disposal for Florida’s growing manufacturing sector. According to Vice President of Organics David Bahrenburg, the goal is to produce nutrient-rich compost by ensuring packaging contaminants are removed before the material enters the recovery cycle. Chief Strategy Officer Jessica Long noted that the facility is currently operational and accepting material from commercial generators looking to move away from traditional disposal methods.