Clear Drop Launches World's First Home Device That Converts Soft Plastics Into Recyclable Blocks

The amount of plastic waste generated by an average American household each year can be as much asBetween 1,000 and 1,200 pounds, a significant portion of which comes from soft plastics such as plastic bags, wrapping paper, and soft packaging. To address the waste crisis in the United States, where the recycling rate for plastic waste is only 5%, Clear Drop® today launched the Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) as a pre-recycling step for households. This device allows soft plastics to be processed directly at home, transforming them into uniformly sized blocks for easier storage, transportation, and recycling.

How SPC fills the gap in soft plastic recycling

"The existing recycling systems in the United States are unable to effectively process soft and flexible plastics—these plastics often clog sorting machines and slow down processing speeds. By compacting soft plastics into high-density blocks, Clear Drop's SPC transforms this difficult-to-handle waste into materials that are more manageable for recycling facilities. SPC also reduces the proportion of 'air' during transportation, thereby decreasing the number of trips, lowering emissions, and improving recycling efficiency by promoting a circular economy," said Clear Drop recycling expert and University of Pittsburgh professor David Nix.

SPC uses patented plastic softening technology to fill the recycling gap and has undergone rigorous testing to be safe for home use. Compared to collecting soft plastics in bags, SPC's compression efficiency is improved by about 10 times, able to store approximately one month's worth of waste. SPC operates quietly and efficiently, consuming 3.3 kilowatt-hours per cycle, with a monthly electricity cost of only about $0.52 for an average household.

"We cannot eliminate the plastic already in our bodies—but we can stop the next piece of trash from polluting our planet," said Clear Drop founder Ivan Arbouzov. "Real change begins with each of us taking responsibility for our own habits. At Clear Drop, we achieve this by ensuring that plastic waste is truly recycled and re-enters the circular economy, rather than being left to drift in the wind, pile up in landfills, or harm our health."

Pre-recycling: A New Method for Cleaner Waste

Clear Drop refers to this new category of waste management as "pre-recycling"—preparing for recycling right at the source of waste generation. Unlike traditional methods, pre-recycling ensures that materials are efficiently compacted and stored, reducing emissions and the workload of sorting. By making waste denser, cleaner, and easier to handle from the outset, SPC helps households take meaningful action while supporting a healthier circular economy.

Soft Plastic CompactorSPC is now available. The monthly plan of $50 includes equipment installment payments, door-to-door pickup service, and a two-year complete warranty. Customers receive three prepaid mailing bags each quarter—enough to recycle about one block of material per month—and can arrange for pickups at any time. For more information, please visit onecleardrop.com.