Infrastructure Is the REAL Circular

In today’s world, “circular economy” has become a buzzword—a symbol of sustainability, efficiency, and the reimagining of waste. But too often, circularity is portrayed as something delicate: a disposable water bottle, paper straws, compostable forks, reusable grocery bags. At Triton Group, we don’t knock those efforts. But we do think the world is missing the bigger picture.

Infrastructure is the REAL circular.

That’s not just a tagline—it’s a belief forged from the realities of the market, decades of experience in recycling and a deep frustration with the short-term mindset that has long plagued both the plastics and infrastructure industries.

A New Leadership Position on Waste

Greg Janson, CEO of Triton Group, brings a unique perspective shaped by his military background. For him, sustainability is not a buzzword—it’s a matter of long-term strategy, tactical execution, and mission success. His view of circularity is grounded in reality, resilience, and economic practicality. As Greg puts it, if circularity is going to win the fight, plastic products must deliver superior performance and measurable bottom-line impact. Hope is not a course of action.

Triton sees their role as transforming the circular industry through realistic demand at scale. And there is no larger scale opportunity than in infrastructure. This is what drove Greg and the Triton team to develop a new generation of composite railroad ties made from post-consumer plastics and reinforced with glass fiber. Unlike traditional wood ties—which are treated with creosote and have limited lifespan—Triton’s ties are inert, durable, and 100% recyclable at end-of-life. They are stronger than hardwood and built to last for 50 plus years..

Beyond the Tie: Why Infrastructure Matters

When we talk about circularity, longevity matters. A product that performs in service for multiple decades — while displacing virgin materials and avoiding landfill — has far more environmental benefit than a single-use item that’s simply compostable or recyclable in theory.

At Triton, we define real circularity as:

• Using PCR to replace inferior, legacy materials
• Creating superior durable goods that stay in use for decades
• Diverting waste from landfills and the environment
• Designing products that can be recycled again at end-of-life
• Reducing maintenance and replacement costs for critical infrastructure
• Lowering the carbon footprint of entire systems—not just products
  

In that sense, our composite ties are just the beginning.

Durable Plastics in Big Infrastructure

Triton Group isn’t alone in this vision. Around the world, other innovators are proving that recycled plastics have a powerful role to play in infrastructure:

• Drain pipes for public works projects Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS)is a leading manufacturer of corrugated HDPE pipes that utilize recycled plastics. The plastic drainage pipe industry is the largest consumer of non-food-grade post-consumer HDPE. 
• Plastic composite lumber in marine construction is replacing creosote, borate, and copper naphthenthate treated wood in seawalls, piers, and docks. These structural composite and plastic materials resist corrosion, marine borers, and UV degradation while offering decades-long performance in saltwater environments. Companies like WearDeck and Tangent (link) are leading in this area.
• Plastic roads in India and the Netherlands are transforming waste into longer-lasting, more weather-resistant surfaces. In India, the government has mandated the use of shredded waste plastic in road construction near urban centers—a method shown to improve durability and reduce costs Government of India, 2018. In the Netherlands, companies like VolkerWessels and CirculinQ (formerly PlasticRoad)  are piloting modular road panels made entirely of recycled plastic that are quick to install and include built-in drainage and sensor systems. (link to company or article. 

These projects share something in common: they use recycled plastics as a high-performance resource, not a compromise.

Changing the Industry Mindset

One of the challenges Triton has encountered is skepticism from traditional infrastructure decision-makers. There’s an ingrained belief that “plastic can’t be strong.” But when  you look closer, that belief doesn’t hold up.  Our ties are not plastic, they are a new composite product. Our ties, for example, contain over 10 billion glass fiber filaments—each one bonded with the plastic matrix to dramatically increase surface area and load-bearing capability. Pound for pound, this combination can exceed steel in tensile strength.

So yes—our ties contain plastic. And glass fiber. The two combine to make an entirely new composite product. Purpose-built. Field-tested. Designed for strength, safety, long-term savings and sustainability.

We’re not asking railroads to take a chance. We’re offering them a chance to lead.

Toward a More Circular Future

At Triton Group, we believe that the real revolution in circularity will come from smarter infrastructure – not more collection bins. We envision a future where:

• Railroad ties, bridge pilings, utility poles, seawalls, building panels, and more are made from re-engineered waste streams
  
• Municipal procurement policies favor materials that extend service life and reduce total cost of ownership
  
• Durable goods made from recycled plastics become the norm—not the exception
  
• Circularity becomes a system-level goal, not just a product-level claim
  

To build that future, you have to build things that last. And to solve the plastics problem, you have to realize that the solution lies in more than recycling symbols on packaging.

Infrastructure is the real circular.  We would love to hear about your ideas where recycled plastics can be used in this way.