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Plastic Grocery Bags: Recycling is the Practical Solution

Plastic Grocery Bags: Recycling is the Practical Solution. Raymond Hampton Trex Company, Inc. About Trex Company, Inc. Manufacturer of Trex® Decking, Fencing and Railing, the leading brand of alternative lumber in North America. 

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Plastic Grocery Bags: Recycling is the Practical Solution

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  1. Plastic Grocery Bags: Recycling is the Practical Solution Raymond Hampton Trex Company, Inc.

  2. About Trex Company, Inc. • Manufacturer of Trex® Decking, Fencing and Railing, the leading brand of alternative lumber in North America.  • A former division of Mobil Corporation, the company was formed by four Mobil executives in 1996 and went public in April 1999. • Trex Company’s Headquarters, R&D and a production plant are located in Winchester, VA. A second plant opened in Fernley, NV in July 1999.   

  3. Plant Locations:Winchester, VA and Fernley, NV

  4. Raw Materials:Reclaimed Wood & Reclaimed Polyethylene Film

  5. Extrusion Process

  6. Why plastic and wood together? • The plastic shields the wood from moisture and insect damage, so there's no rotting or splintering. • The wood protects the plastic from UV damage and gives your deck a solid, natural feel. • Trex lumber offers superior durability and performance that you can't get from wood. Trex never requires staining or painting to maintain it’s look. • Not only is Trex an environmentally friendly product but it is a safe product for the consumer. Trex does contain any harmful chemicals and the decking boards are slip resistant, meeting ADA codes. • Trex offers design flexibility and creative freedom. You can bend and curve Trex to create unique designs, and you can mix and match colors and finishes for a one-of-a-kind custom look.

  7. What’s the problem with plastic bags? • There is a growing concern about litter caused by careless disposal of plastic, particularly plastic grocery bags. Plastic bags are extremely light and travel easily in even the slightest breeze. • The problem is not the bags themselves but the behavior of those who toss them indiscriminately, littering streets, parks, beaches, rivers, lakes, and seas. • Banning bags is a short-term solution to the litter problem and a source of major inconvenience for most shoppers. • Plastic bags cost a fraction of the price of paper bags. They are light, convenient, and have a number of practical re-use applications. • Plastic bags are cheaper to recycle than paper bags.

  8. Trex Plastic Bag Facts • Since the 1990’s, Trex has evaluated various bag collection methods and recycling processes along with investing over $30 MM to determine the most optimal, economical, and sustainable process for recycling plastic bags into Trex lumber. • Trex Company has consumed billions of bags over the last decade. • Top 5 States For Trex Bag Recycling in 2007 • PA over 177 MM bags • NC over 163 MM bags • IL over 147 MM bags • CA over 138 MM bags • OR over 103 MM bags

  9. Plastic Bag Recycling • In the past 5 years, Trex has recycled over 6.5 Billion bags. • Over 17.5 MM lbs. or 1.168 B bags in 2003. • Over 17.9 MM lbs. or 1.191 B bags in 2004 • Over 17.6 MM lbs. or 1.176 B bags in 2005 • Over 22.0 MM lbs. or 1.472 B bags in 2006 • Over 23.2 MM lbs. or 1.546 B bags in 2007

  10. Trex Lumber Facts • A Trex 2 X 6 board that is 16 ft. long uses approx. 2,250 bags. • There are approx. 140,000 bags in a 500 square foot deck of 2 X 6 lumber. • Trex procures approx. 50% of the available recyclable grocery bags in the nation.

  11. Promote, Collect, Consolidate • Promote – Who can promote the recycling of plastic bags? • Recyclers • Bag Manufacturers • Retailers • Schools • Recycling Coordinators • Municipalities • Trade Associations • Environmental Groups • Legislators • General Public • Collect - Where can we collect and capture grocery bags for recycling? • Retailers / Shopping Centers • Grocers • Municipal Recycling Centers • Schools • Offices • Consolidate – What are the best locations for bag recycling consolidation? • Distribution Centers • Recyclers • Municipal Consolidation Programs

  12. Hybrid Bag Recycling Projects • School Recycling Projects • Municipal Recycling Projects (compact balers) • Projects utilizing Handicap Individuals

  13. Collection projects

  14. Collection Projects

  15. Bags to Benches • Trex has launched several programs with local Virginia School Systems to collect bags. • The student classrooms compete against one another to see which school can collect the most bags. • The bags are collected, counted and returned to a local grocer who recycles with Trex. • The winning school is awarded a bench made of Trex decking lumber and a pizza party.

  16. Wise County Virginia Hurley Elementary

  17. Virginia Recycling Facts • Trex recycled 26MM bags in 2006 and 34MM bags in 2007. • Trex captured a total of 5.8 MM pounds of Polyethylene film in Virginia for 2007. • Trex is projecting to capture 50MM bags in 2008.

  18. Virginia Challenge • Trex would like to challenge the state of Virginia and it’s residents to be the top state in the nation for recycling Polyethylene grocery sacks and film. • What’s needed? More education and promotion!

  19. Thank you! Questions?

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