Niagara Bottling has acquired a 305,000-square-foot recycling and packaging facility in Vernon, California, along with the rPlanet Earth brand, marking a major step in expanding bottle-to-bottle recycling operations in the United States.
The facility, located in Los Angeles County, was previously operated by rPlanet Earth before ceasing operations in September 2025. Through the acquisition from rPlanet Earth Los Angeles Holdings and rPlanet Earth Los Angeles, Niagara aims to revive and strengthen California’s recycling infrastructure while advancing circular economy initiatives within the beverage packaging industry.
Rali Sanderson, President of Niagara Bottling, said the company is proud to restart operations at the site and become one of the limited number of companies in the US with a fully integrated bottle-to-bottle recycling system. She added that Niagara is investing in additional equipment to process recyclable plastic into new bottles within California, helping increase recycling rates and giving plastic materials a second lifecycle.
The company plans to use the facility to sort, clean, and process PET plastics into high-quality recycled PET (rPET) flakes and pellets. These recycled materials will then be used in Niagara’s packaging production, reducing dependence on virgin plastic and supporting the company’s sustainability goals.
The Vernon facility is considered one of the more advanced recycling operations in the region due to its ability to process B-bales, which are mixed recyclable materials collected from curbside recycling systems that are typically difficult to handle. The expansion comes as PET recently became the most recycled material in California, surpassing aluminum.
Niagara said the acquisition will support domestic closed-loop recycling by keeping recyclable materials within California and turning them back into new beverage containers for the local market.
The move also supports Niagara’s strategy to strengthen vertical integration and expand its beverage manufacturing operations. Founded in 1963, the family-owned company has implemented several sustainability measures over the years, including reducing plastic usage in caps, bottles, and labels by 70% through lightweight packaging initiatives and introducing label-free bottles in the US market.
Mark Murray, Executive Director of Californians Against Waste, said Niagara’s investment demonstrates a strong commitment to producer responsibility and closed-loop recycling. He noted that the project could help billions of PET containers collected from consumers return to the market as new packaging while reducing pollution, lowering fossil fuel dependence, and creating employment opportunities.
Niagara stated that the facility will be restored in phases before becoming fully operational within its manufacturing network. The company has already begun hiring employees and expects to create around 60 jobs, including opportunities for former rPlanet Earth workers.
Initially, the facility is projected to produce approximately 45 million pounds of recycled PET annually for use in Niagara packaging products. The company also highlighted that it was the first bottling manufacturer in North America to receive TRUE Zero Waste Certification.