ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ — WasteCap Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization that provides waste handling, reduction and recycling assistance to businesses, honored the Vinyl Institute (VI) Oct. 12 with the Innovative Achievement Award for its role in implementing a vinyl siding scrap recycling program in Wisconsin.
Cited for “outstanding efforts and success in market development,” VI was called “a pioneer in researching the possibilities for vinyl scrap and is emerging as a leader in developing a market for this important and widely used material.”
Tim Burns, VI president, said, “On behalf of VI and its members, I am honored to accept this award. We are always looking for ways to increase recycling of vinyl products and improve the efficiency of the process. It is great to partner with WasteCap Wisconsin and others to develop a program that will serve as a model for others to follow across the United States.”
In addition to receiving the award, VI was one of three organizations to be nominated by WasteCap for its Partnership Award.
WasteCap presented the R3 Awards for the first time in its 10-year history to recognize companies, nonprofit organizations and individuals for excellence in waste reduction, reuse and recycling. Seven awards were given out in a ceremony held at the Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha, Wis. Executives in the construction, architectural, environmental and waste management industries attended.
The program for which VI was honored began in 2005. VI partnered with WasteCap Wisconsin, Veridian Homes (winner of this year’s Partnership Award), Waste Management Inc.’s Recycle America and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to test different methods, work out challenges and assess the long-term viability of recycling vinyl siding scrap from new home construction in Milwaukee and Madison, Wis. VI provided funding and assisted in the planning, development and expansion of the WasteCap Wisconsin program.
As of June 2006, 100,000 pounds of vinyl siding scrap had been recycled from 630 new homes, and the goal of developing a standard process for contractors and builders across Wisconsin to follow to recycle vinyl siding waste from new home construction is well on its way to being met. The long- term objective is to apply the process across 30,300 homes built annually in Wisconsin and collect the majority of the 2.5 million pounds of vinyl siding scrap generated in the construction of these homes. The program will continue in 2007.
For more than a decade, VI has supported research and pilot programs to promote vinyl and plastics recycling, and has led development of automated technology that large-scale recycling operations can use to separate different plastics from each other more efficiently. VI maintains a directory of vinyl recyclers in North America, and VI’s recycling expert Peter Lindabery provides technical, operational and marketing assistance to recycling companies. For more information on VI’s recycling program, please visit www.vinylinfo.com/recycling.
Based in Milwaukee, WasteCap Wisconsin’s mission is to provide waste reduction and recycling assistance through business-to-business peer exchange, demonstration and education for the benefit of businesses and the environment. Services are made possible by the support of sponsorships, grants and memberships. For more information, visit www.wastecapwi.org, or contact Shannon Delaney at 414-961-1100 or sdelaney@wastecapwi.org.
Founded in 1982, the Vinyl Institute is a national, independent trade association representing the leading manufacturers of vinyl plastics, as well as makers of vinyl feedstocks, additives, and film and sheet products. VI is located at 1300 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22209. For more information, visit VI’s web site at www.vinylinfo.org.
