Yukon innovator granted patent

Whitehorse – Cold Climate Innovation (CCI) of the Yukon Research Centre is pleased to announce its first partner in innovation to be granted a US patent, with Canadian patent soon to follow. Boreal Compost Enterprises Ltd. has been granted a patent for the technology behind the Plastic Separator, a machine that removes plastic contaminants from compost and other recycled materials. This Yukon invention is set to have a significant impact on the global composting and recycling industry.

Over the last three years CCI has supported Garret Gillespie, president of Boreal Compost and developer of the Plastic Separator, in making his idea a reality. This machine began as a concept that led to financial support from CCI, enabling applied research and development, business mentoring, and intellectual property counsel. 

“Cold Climate Innovation is here to support Yukon innovators like Garret Gillespie by moving their ideas from concept to commercialization”, said Stephen Mooney, Director, Cold Climate Innovation, Yukon Research Centre. “Our door is always open and we will continue to support more Yukoners in research, innovation, and commercialization”, said Mooney.

The Plastic Separator has been designed to set a new industry leading benchmark. Its first design, the Plastovac, was able to remove 70% of plastic from compost and has saved one operator over $250K a year in costs associated with disposal of plastic contaminated compost. Despite the fact that this prototype was better than the leading global competitor, Gillespie wanted to create a machine that would remove a higher percentage of plastic, and he did.

“The Plastic Separator consistently removes 99% of plastic, stone and metal from compost, and uses about half the amount of energy as its nearest competitor”, said Gillespie, president, Boreal Compost Enterprises Ltd. “This innovation would not have been possible without the support from Cold Climate Innovation who has committed to lead this project through to commercialization”, said Gillespie.

The global implications of the Plastic Separator are substantial. The problem of plastic contamination in diverted waste streams is growing, and until now the available plastic separation technology has not been very effective, leaving operators struggle with contaminated material. The market for recycling equipment is growing rapidly across the globe, as the sector continues to expand. The Plastic Separator effectively fills a growing market need that will increase landfill diversion rates and provide substantial savings to composters and recycling operators through reduced disposable fees and improved product quality.

Gillespie will continue working with Cold Climate Innovation, along with Government of Yukon’s Department of Economic Development, and global strategic industry partners to move this product towards commercialization.

For more information on the Plastic Separator and to see how we support Yukon innovators, watch our video.

There are six key programs that operate under YRC at Yukon College: Biodiversity Monitoring, Cold Climate Innovation, Northern Climate ExChange, NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Mine Life Cycle, Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic, Science Adventures, and Technology Innovation.

The Yukon Research Centre is funded by Government of Yukon’s Department of Education with funding for Cold Climate Innovation from Economic Development.