A recognized authority in plastics recycling, Mike Biddle entered that field when he started the plastics recycling research group for Dow Chemical Co. in Walnut Creek, Calif., in 1987. He left Dow in 1992 and started Michael Biddle & Associates to carry out research, develop technology, and provide general consulting services in the area of plastics engineering and recycling.
He founded MBA Polymers in 1994 with his partner, Trip Allen, to expand the research capabilities in the area of plastics recycling, and to develop a commercial process for recovering plastics from complex streams of materials. This company, located in Richmond, Calif., operates a 90,000-square-foot research, demonstration and commercial facility for recycling plastics from durable products such as computers, electronics, appliances, automobiles and even sporting equipment.
Biddle worked for several large companies, including General Electric Co., Cummins Engine Co. and Dow Chemical, before striking out on his own. He has a B.S. in chemical engineering and a Ph.D. in polymer science and engineering. He also completed a Sloan Fellowship in the Executive MBA Program at Stanford University.