About Us
Family Roots to Industrial Scale
For over two decades, we've grown from a grassroots recycling operation into a trusted PP compounding and recycling partner for plastics manufacturers across the country.
Values
Overview & History
News & Updates
Purpose — Our Why
To create value and joy in people's lives.
Vision — Our Aspiration
To be innovative problem solvers that add value to our customers.
Mission — What We Do Every Day
Be the most trusted partner in the plastics manufacturing business by consistently honoring our commitments.
Values
Our Values
Faith & Family
We work to honor God and support our families who depend on us. Decisions are made in view of the Lord, and to protect people and relationships
Integrity
Always do what we say. No shortcuts, no excuses. Every action builds trust
Hard Work & Ownership
Everyone pulls their weight, takes responsibility, and delivers results. We fix problems, not blame.
Partnership
We build long-term trust with customers, vendors, and employees. We win together.
Stability & Security
We provide dependable jobs, consistent operations, and a company that lasts for generations.
Learning & Growth
We seek to improve every day — as individuals and as a team. We learn from mistakes, share knowledge, and pursue excellence through curiosity and humility.
Overview & History
The Foundation
Rick and Cindy Schulze, founders
The Beginning
1999
Founded by Rick and Cindy Schulze as a grassroots operation.
2005
Strategic expansion into paper and plastic recycling.
Phase I: Vertical Integration (2010-2017)
2010
Industrial Recyclers (IR) launched as a specialized division in Sidney, OH.
2012-16
Rapid advancement from mechanical processing to technical polymer manufacturing (extrusion and compounding).
Phase II: Strategic Logistics & Scale (2018-2022)
2018
Expanded to Anderson, IN, featuring on-site rail access for high-volume national distribution.
2022
Established flagship Sidney facility for larger-scale material cleaning and precision blending
Phase III: The Future of Capacity (2023-NOW)
2023-24
Doubled extrusion output with two additional high-capacity production lines.
2026
Executing current phase of blending and extrusion expansion to meet enterprise-level demand.
News & Updates
What's Happening at IR
SEP
18
Event
Sidney Facility Open House
Tour our Sidney, OH compounding line and meet the team behind your material.
AUG
'26
Announcement
New Extrusion Line Online
We've added a second high-capacity extrusion line at our Sidney facility, increasing our compounding throughput.
JUL
'26
Announcement
ISO 9001 Certification Update
We're making steady progress toward ISO 9001 certification, formalizing the quality systems we run every day.
OCT
07
Event
Plastics Recycling Industry Expo
IR will be exhibiting — stop by our booth to talk PP compounding and toll processing.