Awards for US plastics recycling innovators

United States – The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has announced the winners of its inaugural Innovation in Plastics Recycling awards, namely Axion International, Inc., Nepco Industrial Company and Trex Company. The three US businesses have been recognised for their development of high-performing, popular products using post-consumer recycled plastics.

‘Axion, Nepco and Trex are outstanding examples of how plastics recycling can help stimulate innovation, jobs and the economy, while benefitting the environment,’ says Cal Dooley, ACC’s President and CEO. ‘Their success demonstrates that the plastics recycling industry is a vibrant and growing part of the US economy.’ Together, the three award-winners annually process around 325 million pounds of post-consumer recycled plastics.

New Jersey-based Axion has developed extremely strong and durable building products, including railroad ties made from 100% recycled plastics, primarily polyethylene. Axion’s products have been selected for use in numerous military and infrastructure projects.

Nepco makes high-end mouldings for picture frames from recycled expanded polystyrene at its 36 000-square-foot facility in Chino, California. The company processes some 4.2 million pounds of post-consumer polystyrene per year.

Meanwhile, at its manufacturing facilities in Winchester, Virginia, and Fernley, Nevada, Trex Company transforms 300 million pounds of post-consumer polyethylene each year into durable, high-end fencing and decking products. Trex estimates that, on an annual basis, it recycles 1.3 billion plastic grocery bags.