Plastic recycler Switchable Solutions making progress

Switchable Solutions Inc., the Toronto-based clean technology company led by former Canadian Plastics Industry Association head Mark Badger, is making progress with its plans to offer a proprietary green solvent-based technology that enables efficient and environmentally friendly plastic recycling and processing of oil sands.

The company has hired two executives to support accelerating technology commercialization plans: Dr. Eric Kelusky and Mary Frazer. Frazer steps into the role of vice president of finance and administration, while Kelusky has been named chief technology officer. Kelusky comes from a plastics background, having held research and development and manufacturing roles with DuPont and Nova Chemicals; most recently, he was vice president of technology for Nova, responsible for all research and development in Canada and the U.S.

“Having two seasoned pros on our team who have practical experience taking innovations successfully to market will help us move forward even more quickly and confidently with our expanding network of potential customers and business partners,” said Badger, the company’s CEO.

During 2012, Switchable Solutions also plans to complete its oil sands bitumen extraction pre-pilot project and start up its plastics recycling demonstration plant. Design, engineering and construction of the bitumen extraction process will be undertaken in Ontario, the company said, with operation and testing to be completed in Alberta. The Company’s plastic recycling demonstration plant will be located in Mississauga, Ont., at the site of Fielding Chemical Technologies, one of the company’s founding industrial partners.