[NONMETALLICS]

The Coca-Cola Co., along with Femsa, its largest bottler in Mexico, and Alpla, its top supplier of plastic bottles, plans to build a recycling plant at a cost of slightly more than $20 million.

The plant will be the first of its kind in Latin America and the fourth in the world to use URCC recycling technology.

Construction is to begin early September in Toluca, about 37 miles west of Mexico City.

The plant, which will cover an area of 255,000 square feet, should be up and running by the fourth quarter of 2004. It is expected to recycle some 25,000 tons of PET bottles yearly.

Jose Octavio Reyes, Coca-Cola chief in Latin America, says the project is a clear example of Coke’s commitment to environmental protection.

"Initiatives such as this are the result of a clear awareness that, in order to continue to operate here for many years, we must ensure the sustainable development of our business," Reyes says.

More than 25 Puget Sound schools and about 30 municipal transit and park sites have installed products designed by Durable Plastic Design LLC (DPD), Redmond, Wash.

DPD, which fabricates and sells garden products, commercial grade benches and tables and dock and pool boxes constructed from plastic lumber, was formed in May. Co-owners Marc Lagen, Eric Ulfwengren, Chris Lausch and Victoria Knoll have extensive experience designing, fabricating and selling recycled plastic products.

DPD manufactures its products from 100 percent recycled post-consumer plastic. Lagen says DPD will begin manufacturing its own plastic lumber this month, primarily for its own use. DPD also will market its plastic lumber to the construction industry in standard lumber dimensions.

More information on DPD and its products is available at www.durableplasticdesign.com.