Nonmetallics

MIDLAND BUYS TRITCH RECOVERED PAPER OPERATIONS

Midland Recycling, Lincoln, Neb., has recently purchased Tritch Enterprises, a company that operates paper recycling programs throughout the state of Nebraska. The move was made to strengthen Midland’s recycled paper sourcing in the region, according to company officials. Mark Tritch, the former owner of Tritch Enterprises, has assumed the position of marketing manager at Midland Recycling. He will be primarily responsible for the acquisition and growth of Midland’s inbound recycled commodities stream. Midland operates material recycling facilities in Detroit, Des Moines, Iowa, and Tulsa, Okla., in addition to one at its Lincoln headquarters.

FIRM INTRODUCES PROGRAM TO RECYCLE PLASTIC HANGERS

A&E Products, a maker of plastic hangers based in Phoenix, has developed a new method to recycle the hangers. The proprietary process is specifically designed for plastic hangers, and will prepare the plastic scrap for reuse in new hangers.

The company has established nine regional hanger collection centers in Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; Denver; Kansas City, Kan.; Minneapolis; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; and North Bergen, N.Y. Also, three super recycling centers are located in Los Angeles, Dallas and Thomasville, N.C.

3M DEVELOPS PROGRAM TO RECYCLE TRANSPARENCY FILM

The Visual Systems Division of 3M Corp., Austin, Texas, has created a national recycling program in the United States to reclaim used overhead transparency film. The program – the first of its kind, according to 3M officials – has already received more than 57,000 pounds of film for recycling from more than 90 corporations.

Based on the size of the market and the number of transparencies sold, 3M estimates that about 15 million pounds of used polyester-based overhead transparencies end up in landfills each year. The company also expects the sales of transparencies to increase significantly in the near-term future.

3M has developed a safe recycling process so that regional centers can recycle the film, which is turned into reusable polyester. Currently, 3M’s transparency film consists of about 50 percent recycled material – half of which is post consumer.

The company has included details in each box of transparencies on how to recycled the film, or users can call (800) 952-4059 for more information.

RUBBER COATING IS MADE FROM RECYCLED TIRES

A new rubber coating that is made from about 25 percent recycled tires can be used for metal roof repair, bridge protection and vertical substrates, according to officials at Environmental Rubber Products, St. Paul, Minn. The rubber coating, called Re-Cycle Seal, has been under development for the last 15 years. Re-Cycle Seal is applied with a sprayer and forms an impermeable rubber membrane on surfaces, say company officials. ERP is now developing a variant of Re-Cycle Seal for asphalt and concrete crack repair called Flo-Coat.

NEW PACKAGING METHOD USES MORE RECYCLED MATERIAL

Plastipak Packaging Inc., Plymouth, Mich., and its technical development partner, Husky, Bolton, Ontario, have developed a new multi-layer process that economically and effectively uses barriers and recycled plastics in consumer products packaging, including food products. The Exxi-Pak process will make it possible to use multi-layer plastic containers for products that previously required glass or other materials, according to the company.

UNDERWRITERS LISTS FIRST USED-OIL BOILER

Underwriters Laboratories gave its first UL Listing for a used-oil-fired boiler to the Black Gold Corp., Nashville, Tenn. Important to generators of used oil, the UL Listing gives them yet another valuable tool to recycle used oil on-site without invalidating their fire insurance and violating building or fire codes. Most insurers and fire marshals require UL Listing to insure safety of used oil burning equipment.

PLASTIC PEANUTS RECYCLED BY MAIL BOXES ETC.