Trex-led PE Recycling Alliance Reports Phenomenal Growth

An alliance to turn polyethylene (PE) waste into wood-alternative composites has seen a 227% increase in participation since its launch two years ago by Trex Co.

The NexTrex Grassroots Movement is a collaboration among businesses, municipalities, educational institutions, and other organizations nationwide to source material for Trex composite decking and railing. Trex products are made primarily from recycled and reclaimed content, including wood scrap and PE film.

Millions of pounds of PE waste recovered

Providing more than 70 drop-off locations throughout the United States, Grassroots partners have recovered more than three million pounds of PE waste.

Organizations that don’t meet the volume requirements of Trex’s commercial recycling program serve as community drop-off locations for a broad range of PE film materials, from grocery bags and newspaper sleeves to bubble wrap, shrink wrap, and more.

Trex pays partners for collected film waste

Participants are supplied with equipment to collect and bale that film waste. When 20 to 40 bales — 20,000 to 40,000 pounds of film waste — are accumulated, Trex collects and delivers that material to its manufacturing facilities in Virginia or Nevada. Trex compensates these partners for the baled film.

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“Because plastic film cannot be recycled in curbside bins with other recyclable materials, such as paper, cardboard, and glass, the NexTrex program offers a simple way for consumers and organizations to responsibly dispose of plastic film waste,” said Stephanie Hicks, materials and recycling programs manager for Trex. “Municipalities and non-profit organizations are ideal partners. Colleges and universities also are having great success with this program by engaging staff, students, and community members in responsible recycling. It’s really inspiring to see the amount of good that can be done when like-minded people come together to preserve our planet.”

A full list of qualifying materials can be found at www.NexTrex.com.