Akron will turn curbside recyclables to crude oil

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Akron plans to start converting its recycled plastics into synthetic crude oil.

The 10-year contract with Houston’s Greenstar Recycling was announced in the northeast Ohio city on Monday by Mayor Don Plusquellic.

According to the Akron Beacon Journal, the company will convert a hangar at Akron Fulton International Airport into a facility to process recyclables.

The facility will cost up to $8 million and create 45 jobs.

The system will rely on No. 3 through No. 7 plastics common in food containers.

Greenstar will form a joint venture with a Cleveland company to turn some of the recycled plastics into low-sulfur crude.

Akron hopes its recycling profit will nearly double to $500,000 a year.