About Us

About Us

We are driving change to defeat the challenge of agricultural plastic waste & create a greener tomorrow.

We're addressing the challenge of inadequate recycling infrastructure for farm plastics. These essential materials often end up in landfills, burned in fields, or buried due to high contamination levels from soil and sand after field use. Traditional cleaning methods are costly, making recycling economically unviable.

Repurpose Farm Plastic, Inc. offers an affordable, local solution to transform agricultural plastic waste into a valuable resource. Our unique approach employs small-scale, dry-cleaning tailored to local conditions, promoting sustainability in agricultural plastic waste management. Our patentable technology, open for licensing, supports widespread adoption, aligning with global initiatives for sustainable waste management and climate change mitigation.

Operating on a small scale minimizes both initial and maintenance costs. Our cleaning process reduces weight, emissions, and transportation expenses. Additionally, our mechanical cleaning technology saves energy and eliminates water contamination risks.

To achieve this, we've implemented a streamlined system for collecting, cleaning, and selling this material to companies specializing in creating valuable products. Collecting farm plastic is straightforward due to its seasonal nature, and we consistently obtain two specific types of plastic each time, eliminating labour-intensive sorting processes.

Our cleaning process involves cutting, cleaning, and bailing. While we can't disclose specific details yet, we can share that it achieves remarkable results: visibly removing 99% of contaminants, meeting industry recycling requirements, and reducing material weight by 50%, significantly cutting transportation costs.

Repurpose Farm Plastic, Inc. presents an eco-friendly, cost-effective solution to the growing challenge of agricultural plastic waste.

Our Team

Krisztina Christmon (Ph.D.)

(She/Her) Founder, CEO

  • The concept of Repurposing Farm Plastic originated during Kris' involvement in the University of Maryland's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Enterprise Challenge in 2020, where her team claimed the grand prize. Although the team composition has evolved, Kris' unwavering dedication and ardor for the initiative have endured. Hailing from a farmer lineage, Kris has a history of tackling intricate scientific issues and assuming leadership roles. Leveraging her exceptional interpersonal aptitude, Kris champions the cause of Plastic Pollution awareness and spearheads the startup toward triumph.

    Kris earned her Ph.D. in Entomology at the University of Maryland. Her previous education is in Agricultural Engineering (BSc, MSc) at the University of West Hungary (Hungary) and in Evolutionary and Behavioral Ecology (MSc) at the University of Exeter (United Kingdom).

Benjamin Rickels (Ph.D.)

(He/Him) Advisor

  • Ben joined the team during the initial stages of this endeavour. His addition was ideal, considering his long-standing aspiration to construct a plastic recycling machine. Despite encountering setbacks in his previous attempts to devise plastic processing machines, his determination remains unwavering. Ben is an avid do-it-yourself enthusiast. His enthusiasm for plastic recycling was ignited by influential figures like Dave Hakkens (the mind behind Precious Plastic) and his involvement with a community recycling organization.

    Drawing inspiration from these experiences, Ben has crafted numerous designs and prototypes geared towards purifying agricultural plastic. Collaborating closely with the engineering team, he spearheaded the development of an innovative dry-cleaning technology tailored for agricultural plastic waste.

    Ben earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. Previously He studied Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh (BSc) and the University of Oregon (MSc).

Pamela Retseck

(She/Her) Advisor

  • Pamela is an accomplished businesswoman with over 30 years of experience in the recycling material industry. Her extensive expertise and network have been invaluable in the company's journey. Pamela has connected us with industry experts and potential buyers, opening doors to valuable opportunities. Pamela's wealth of experience and strategic insights have significantly contributed to our success.