Phoenix-based cannabis small-biz recycles its way into new deal with Curaleaf

"Curaleaf. . . recently partnered with Phoenix-based recycling company, Resinate, to launch a statewide cannabis packaging recycling program," the company announced in a press release.

Well, take out the recycle bin, actually. 

"They're called power 'energy pods,'" said Garret Schwartz, co-founder and CEO of Resinate.

I stand corrected. But you can understand my confusion. The energy pods are big, 55-gallon steel barrels.

Curaleaf, which has 14 locations throughout Arizona and one in the Tucson area at 4695 N. Oracle Rd #117, now has the blue energy pods in all of their retail locations.

The initiative is aimed at helping reduce the amount of waste and pollution tied to the cannabis industry, like packaging and other plastics.

"Our goal with this partnership is to minimize the impact that cannabis packaging has on our environment by creating a convenient way for our customers to recycle," said Mayra Medina, Senior Marketing Manager at Curaleaf.

Schwartz explained how the Resinate process works.

First, customers either on their way in or out of a dispensary approach the energy pod. From there, signage on top of the pod lets you know what sort of packaging and plastic are accepted.

"Customers can drop off their empty packaging including mylar bags, flower jars and pre-roll tubes," at Curaleaf locations, Medina confirmed.

Ah, but before you deposit anything, you might want to try seeing if you get any points, either through Resinate or Curaleaf, before getting rid of that joint holder.

"There's a QR code which you'll first scan with your phone. That QR code takes takes you to a little fill out form," Schwartz said.

If customers earn enough points?

Garret Schwartz (1)

"They'll get their either a coupon or like say a coupon at Curaleaf for 10% off Select (a cannabis brand). And that's a stackable coupon they can use with any other promotion," Schwartz said.

The reason for Resinate being in dispensaries and recycling the type of products and waste it does is somewhat complicated. For the full story, click here for my profile on Schwartz from two weeks ago.

But the Cliffnotes version is, much of the plastic used in the cannabis industry, either because of the type of plastic it's classified as or because the plastic/packaging is so small, can't actually be recycled using conventional means.

"People can recycle their packaging, their plastic packaging, we'll be working on paper and metal and things like glass soon," Schwartz said. "And we collect all that material ourselves, we don't have the dispensary bring it to us."

Schwartz confirmed that Resinate collects and recycles all plastic. However, it sorts through what it collects and uses No.5 plastic. That's used in making Resinate's unique rolling trays, known as Twisted Tray's.

Resinate tray (curaleaf version)

"They're designed to make it easy to fill cones, which pre-roll cones are a very popular, growing way to make a joint, especially for people who have long nails or also people with disabilities who don't maybe have full use of both their hands or all of their fingers," he said.

So far, the partnership has been bountiful, both in the amount of sign-ups for Curaleaf's rewards program and in the amount of waste collected.

"Over 600 recyclers have signed up for rewards and it's estimated that over 1,000 people have participated in the program at Curaleaf since we began the partnership in April 2022," Medina said. "To date, we have recycled over 620 pounds of plastic and saved over 31,000 containers from landfills."

Resinate's energy pods can also be found in other locations in Arizona as well.

In Southern Arizona, in addition to the aforementioned Curaleaf near Tucson Mall, Hana Dispensary in Green Valley (as well as its siste-dispensary in Scottsdale) also sports a barrel for customers and patients to toss their doop tubes.

Schwartz said that, as of Oct. 17, there would be 30 active locations where Resinate's pods can be found.

For more information on those locations and Resinate, you can visit their website at https://www.resinate.tech/

"We're looking forward to further growth and helping the industry reuse some of the materials that make it possible," Schwartz said.