Conference Speakers

Don Walter

Director R&D, Darling Fibers

BIOGRAPHY

Don spent 18 years at the Fiber Industries facility from 1984 through 2002 starting immediately upon graduation from University of Maryland in Chemical Engineering. During that time he worked in various roles including product development, process improvement, production and maintenance management and quality leadership. His primary focus throughout his tenure was working on Quality, and in the last 7 years he coordinated the efforts to achieve ISO 9001 certification, earned his 6-Sigma Black Belt designation and managed the Quality Assurance efforts in the staple and POY chip product streams.

During his hiatus from manufacturing, Don followed his long-term passion for teaching and opened the first Mathnasium in South Carolina where he and his team have helped thousands of young learners gain an appreciation for math applications and careers. It continues to reach students today.

In 2017, Don was asked to come back to Fiber Industries to help re-establish the Quality Program. He gladly accepted and enjoyed the challenge of re-starting the facility. Over the past five years, his role has expanded to include Technical Product Development and Process Improvement and is currently focused on the future of sustainability in the role of R&D Director.

Don is an active member of St. Paul United Methodist church as a Lay Speaker. He and Fran have been married for 37 years, have two married children, and most recently added five grandchildren in the past 6 years. Don enjoys spending time with his family and still takes time to “play math” with students at Mathnasium. He is a member of Rotary and has served on several non-profit boards including Harvest Hope.

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The Recycling Landscape and Future of rPET

Polyester has been an integral material in society for many years. Its properties can be engineered as tire cord for its strength and stability, designed for safe packaging for food and drink, and formed into various denier textiles for use in a myriad of end uses. Additionally, the low-cost and flexibility of polyester has made it a popular choice in many single-use products. Its durability is an asset in many cases but also creates a concern as products reach end-of-life. Untreated polyester does not degrade effectively in landfills which creates long-term environmental issues.

Sustainable technologies for PET are expanding quickly, and it is unlikely that any one method will optimally handle the variety of ecological challenges. This presentation will focus on recycling, and discuss the practical challenges and benefits of the leading options. It will also layout some of the key hurdles in rPET production and usage in the near term.