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March 9, 2010

Don’t toss that plastic foam – recycle it in Randleman

Larry Penkava The Randolph Guide Tue Mar 09, 2010, 09:48 PM EST

RANDLEMAN — Now you can recycle plastic foam rather than sending it to the landfill.

Dart Container Corp. is now accepting foam for recycling at the plant at 3219 Wesleyan Road in Randleman. It’s open to the public 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The program was kicked off last Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the drop-off facility.

Michael Westerfield, corporate director of recycling programs for Dart, told a group that included state and local officials that recycling foam cups, plates and other packaging products helps the environment by keeping plastic out of landfills and providing material for finished products.

By using recycled polystyrene, manufacturers can save money by not having to buy virgin products, he said.

Guests were shown some of the products made from recycled foam, including picture frames and moldings. By replacing wood, that also reduces the need for forest products.

Westerfield demonstrated a machine called a densifier that compacts foam into a much smaller volume. He said the densifier “is designed to beat foam into submission.” Normally, compacted foam will eventually resume its shape, but the densifier eliminates that.

A standard-sized tractor-trailer, he said, will hold about 1,000 pounds of foam cups. After the foam has been compacted, however, about 40,000 pounds can be loaded onto the trailer.

Recycled foam will be sold to processors at a much lower price, said Westerfield. The resulting plastic wood can be sawn and nailed just like real wood and looks like the real thing.

“We’ve been looking for somewhere to take our recyclable foam,” said Shannon Terrell of Walter, Robbs, Callahan & Pierce Architects of Winston-Salem. “We have gone through a learning curve to implement our recycling program. Now we’re working with other companies in their recycling. That’s why I’m here (at the event).”

Dart, which was founded in 1937, opened the Randleman plant in 1988 and currently employs 282 locally. Westerfield said the Randleman foam drop-off location is the company’s 13th in the country. It’s believed to be one of North Carolina’s first public sites.

“There’s been a lot of interest in the program,” said Westerfield. “We take all kinds of foam products,” including cups, plates, takeout containers, egg cartons and foam used in packaging electronic equipment.

Dart also invites businesses to bring their recycled foam. He said they would expand the program as dropoffs increase.

Recyclers are asked to rinse off containers and place the foam in clear, sealed bags. No straws, lids, plastic wrap, packaging peanuts, foam insulation or trash can be accepted. Foam products should have the No. 6 recycle symbol.

To schedule large deliveries, call 336-495-1101. The drop-off site is just inside the main gate.

Westerfield said the federal government won’t allow Dart to use recycled foam to manufacture food packaging, “but we’re working on that.”

Guests included N.C. Secretary of Commerce Keith Crisco, N.C. Sen. Jerry Tillman, N.C. Rep. Pat Hurley, Randleman Mayor Tony Lowe and City Manager Tony Sears, Rebecca Briles representing Congressman Howard Coble and members of the staffs of U.S. Sens. Richard Burr and Kay Hagan.

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