Plastic Bag Makers Seek to Boost Recycled Content
The Progressive Bag Affiliates of the American Chemistry Council, Arlington, Va., has announced a plan designed to significantly increase recycling of plastic bags.
The Full Circle Recycling Initiative sets a goal of 40 percent recycled content in all plastic bags by 2015, including at least 25 percent post-consumer recycled content.
Participants in the program will each separately decide how to support the goal, but overall, industry is expected to invest nearly $50 million to overhaul manufacturing processes and on an annual basis will collect 470 million pounds of recycled plastic for the manufacture of new bags, according to Progressive Bag Affiliates.
GreenMan Changes Name of Welch Products
GreenMan Technologies Inc., Savage, Minn., has changed the name of its Welch Products Inc. subsidiary, based in Carlisle, Iowa, to Green Tech Products Inc.
Lyle Jensen, GreenMan’s president and CEO, says, "We have built our business by delivering products that represent the best aspects of recycling, green technology, safety and accessibility. The name Green Tech Products better encapsulates not only where the business is today, but also future growth initiatives." He adds, "Our playground products will continue to be marketed under our National Playground Compliance Group name, which enjoys strong brand recognition within the industry."
Coca-Cola Introduces Recyclable, Renewable Plant-Based Plastic Bottle
The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, has released a plastic bottle made in part from plants.
According to Coke, the PlantBottle is fully recyclable, has a lower reliance on a non-renewable resource and reduces carbon emissions when compared to petroleum-based PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles.
"The PlantBottle is a significant development in sustainable packaging innovation," Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Co., says. "It builds on our legacy of environmental ingenuity and sets the course for us to realize our vision to eventually introduce bottles made with materials that are 100 percent recyclable and renewable."
The bottle is made from a blend of petroleum-based materials and up to 30 percent plant-based materials. It is produced by turning sugar cane and molasses, a by-product of sugar production, into a key component for PET plastic. Coca-Cola is exploring the use of other plant materials for future generations of the PlantBottle.
Coca-Cola says its bottle can be processed through existing manufacturing and recycling facilities without contaminating traditional PET.
Dasani and sparkling brands in select markets will pilot the bottle this year.
New Mexico Awards Tire Grant Money
The New Mexico Environment Department has awarded more than $260,000 in grants to eight communities and solid waste authorities to clean up illegal tire dumps in the state and to recycle scrap tires.
The department awarded the 2009 Recycling and Illegal Dumping Grants to Chaves, De Baca and Hidalgo counties; the Town of Estancia; Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council; Northwestern New Mexico Regional Solid Waste Authority; Southwest Solid Waste Authority; and the town of Estancia.
Ron Curry, secretary of New Mexico’s Environment Department, says, "New Mexicans generate 2 million scrap tires each year, and unfortunately not all of them are disposed of properly or recycled. The grants help tackle those problems."
The grant program is authorized under the Recycling and Illegal Dumping rules, adopted in December 2006.
Entities eligible for grant funds include municipalities, counties, tribes, land grant communities, cooperative associations and solid waste authorities. The department received 12 applications for the grant funding that amounted to $1.3 million in requests.
The next grant cycle is scheduled to begin in July and remain open for about a month. Winners for the 2010 grant cycle will be announced in August. More information is available at the bureau’s Web site, www.nmenv.state.nm.us/SWB.
Explore the June 2009 Issue
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