April 7, 2021 at 4:16 p.m.
Community recycling program underway
Community recycling program underway
By Stephanie Kuski-
What's more? An estimated eight million tons of plastic is also discarded into the world's oceans every year, contaminating marine ecosystems. Circulating ocean currents have enabled buoyant plastics to accumulate in five zones throughout the world's oceans. The largest accumulation zone of marine debris is called the "Pacific Vortex" or the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch," an accumulation of plastic waste located between Hawaii and California that covers an estimated 1.6 million square kilometers, an area twice the size of Texas.
In an effort to solve this global crisis, large distributors, manufacturers and other companies worldwide have fueled the movement to recycle and reuse their plastic waste while encouraging local communities to do the same.
Just one example is Trex, the nation's largest manufacturer of wood-alternative decking that is made from reclaimed plastic and waste wood. Trex is also one of the largest plastic bag recyclers in the U.S, purchasing approximately 300 million pounds of reusable material that would otherwise end up in landfills.
Trex facilitates win-win partnerships with large distributors, communities and individuals to incentivize partners to donate unwanted plastic material that Trex uses to create eco-friendly composite decking and railing. Not only does this keep plastic waste out of landfills and oceans, but Trex also offers monetary awards and other prizes for participating partners.
Hundreds of schools across the nation participate in Trex's recycling challenge, competing against each other to recycle the most plastic film. Trex also sponsors local recycling programs in universities and communities throughout the country, challenging teams to collect 500 lbs of plastic in a six-month period to win a composite bench made from recycled plastic.
The best part is, partnering with Trex is relatively simple. Emily Popp, a sales associate at Mel's Trading Post, decided to take on Trex's recycling challenge and extend the opportunity to the Rhinelander community.
Popp, a native of Oshkosh, said she recently transitioned from a salon job in Eagle River that was a drop-off point for a Trex recycling program there, which inspired her to continue the program in Rhinelander.
"When this program started at my last job, I was super excited and loved to have the opportunity to bring it down to Rhinelander as well," she said.
"It's something Eagle River has been doing I think for two or three years now," Popp added. "A lot of places already do it. In Wisconsin, Kohl's and Festival Foods, Home Depot, they already sell their packaging wrap back to their distributor, who Trex buys it from."
Popp said Mel's was on board to become a drop-off location for the recycling challenge, in addition to the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce and Tractor Supply. She said individuals can drop off accepted materials at any of these three locations, where she will then collect and weigh the items before sending them off to Kohl's, another Trex drop-off location.
All recycled materials that are collected for the challenge must be clean, dry and empty. Accepted items include: grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags, newspaper sleeves, ice bags, plastic shipping envelopes, ziplock bags and other resealable food storage bags, cereal bags, case overwrap, salt bags, pallet wrap, stretch film, wood pellet bags and produce bags.
The goal is to collect 500 lbs of plastic film and bags between April 1 and Sept. 1 in order to win a free bench made from recycled plastic, which Popp said will be donated to the community.
"But even if we don't hit the 500 lbs and we don't get the free bench, it's something we'll still definitely be doing," she added. "And if we don't hit it in September, we can start another (challenge)... Every six months, you're able to do another challenge."
But Popp said Mel's has already gotten a head start on their recycling totals, since they have been saving their plastic waste as new spring and summer items start to roll in. She said while 500 lbs might sound like a lot of plastic, she is surprised by how much has already been collected.
Those interested in participating in the recycling challenge can drop off bags of accepted items to Mel's Trading Post, the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce and Tractor and Supply.
For more information about Trex's recycling program, visit www.trex.com/recycling/recycling-programs/.
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