Startup Clear Drop has introduced its Soft Plastic Composter (SPC) at CES 2026, addressing the challenge of recycling flexible plastics, which often end up in landfills. The SPC functions by accepting soft plastic items through a slot, heating and compressing them into bricks approximately the size of a shoebox. These bricks can then be sent to an Indiana facility for processing.
Retailing at around $1,400, the SPC offers a payment plan requiring an initial fee of $200 followed by $50 monthly payments for two years, which includes shipping costs. Although the price is high, demand is strong with nearly all units from the first production run sold out. Small businesses, particularly pharmacies, have found the SPC useful, processing up to six bricks per day, while average households may produce one every two to three weeks.
Not all soft plastics are compatible with the SPC; for instance, elastic gloves and vinyl cannot be processed. Clear Drop is developing a more affordable and lighter version of the SPC to make recycling accessible to a broader audience, acknowledging the growing interest in sustainable practices among consumers.