PaperAge Magazine

GP Harmon is Now Georgia-Pacific Recycling

Georgia-Pacific Recycling

Feb. 13, 2019 (Press Release) - To kick 2019 right into high gear, GP Harmon Recycling is changing its name to Georgia-Pacific Recycling. The change directly reflects the business being part of a large, stable and respected organization.

Changing the name comes at a time of significant disruption in the recycling industry.

“While the Harmon name is well-known in the marketplace, more formally adopting the Georgia-Pacific name reflects that we are committed to being a preferred partner in the recyclable commodity industry,” said Marc Forman, president – Georgia-Pacific Recycling. “To say that the recycling industry is experiencing a lot of change is an understatement; our new name reflects that we are a stable company with a commitment to innovative solutions.”

The most impactful change has been China's decision in 2018 to significantly lower the allowable limit of imports of contaminated recycling materials, such as greasy pizza boxes or paper mixed with plastic. China has long been the world's largest importer of recyclable materials. The strict change has created issues to solve, like what to do with material China will no longer accept, and opportunities for new innovations for players in all aspects of the industry.

Given the disruption in this export market, industry experts believe this will be a long-term issue. The U.S. will need to seek out new markets for recyclables and find ways to reduce contaminants in materials.

However, despite this severe blow to the recycling industry, Georgia-Pacific Recycling is seeing this as an opportunity to transform the way they do business. With nearly 50 years of experience in the recycling industry, the team is ready to evolve with the market.

In addition to having decades of industry experience, Georgia-Pacific Recycling is a global marketer of recyclable materials, selling more than six million tons of paper and 450 million pounds of plastics annually — further exhibiting their ability to stay strong in this evolving environment. Changing the name to Georgia-Pacific Recycling embodies its ability to remain stable and respected.

Georgia-Pacific Recycling will maintain its headquarters in Jericho, New York, while continuing to operate six U.S. recycling centers.

SOURCE: Georgia-Pacific