Still a long way to go

Turtle Plastics founder Tom Norton could write a book about his tenure in the plastics recycling industry. In fact, he did. It’s nearly 200 pages and soon to be released.

While we can’t go into that level of detail here, suffice it to say that Turtle Plastics, the Lorain, Ohio-based company that designs and manufactures safety stabilization products and interlocking tiles using recycled plastic, reflects his passion for recycling, sustainability and entrepreneurship.

That was followed by recycling automotive trim into interlocking Turtle Tile and IV bags in partnership with Baxter Travenol, now Baxter International.

Norton also established the Magnificent Machinery Co. to design and build recycling equipment.

When Turtle Plastics started, Norton says virtually no plastic was being recycled. While things have improved since then, he says plastics recycling still has a long way to go.

Where do you see upcoming opportunities for plastics recycling? What about challenges? Most plastics can be recycled, and there is demand for products that can be made from recycled plastics. Like most industries, there has to be innovation and incentives to manufacturers and the consumers to buy recycled products. The challenge is to change the culture to think about ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. Cultural change requires a lot of buy-in from the public, requires education, sometimes it requires a disastrous event. We need leaders in legislation and corporations to make that commitment to cultural change.

What lessons have you learned about the industry that have helped you over the years? In order to answer that, one must understand something about the plastics industry. No matter what they say publicly, the last thing the industry is interested in is recycling. Why? Because plastics are made from the residue of making oil! Just look at what scrap plastics were selling for 40 years ago when we started and the price today. Compare that increase to increases in any other product.

It will be interesting to see what happens as the demand for oil lessens due to electric cars and other alternative sources of power. I predict in a couple of decades, the price of plastics will climb to make it more worthwhile to recycle.

What is one of your proudest professional accomplishments? Sorry if I brag a little:

• built first MRF [material recovery facility] in Ohio;
• built a company to make a giant bag opener for the recycling industry called the Magnificent Machinery Co.;
• invented the highly specialized interlocking cribbing for the fire and construction industries;
• started the Turtle Plastics Foundation [a broad-based nonprofit organization that advocates for, creates, supports and promotes educational, environmental, health and safety initiatives worldwide]; and
• established a very profitable and professionally run company that will continue to prosper for many generations.

What’s the biggest professional mistake you have made? I went after too many markets and developed too many products. The company would have been even larger today if I had focused a little more. However, now with the professional guidance of our President Liz Demetriou and Vice President Dennis Hildebrandt, we are leaner and have a more focused strategy for growth. 

What advice can you offer to younger plastics recyclers entering the market? I have been away from the grassroots of recycling for a long time and would not know how to direct someone. However, I would be glad to have a discussion with anyone wanting to get into the business.