Extrusion International 2-2022

47 Extrusion International 2/2022 Recycling in the United States goes beyond placing plastic beverage bottles in a curbside collection bin. Post-consumer recycling is crucial in providing sorted waste streams for reclaim, but that’s not where the process ends. Companies that seek to manufacture new products from recycled contents can source reusable materials from collection centers where these materials are sorted by type – if there is enough recycled material available. Manufacturing scrap – waste cre- ated during manufacturing – can supplement post-consumermaterial streams. In-plant size reduction ma- chinery makes it possible for compa- nies to reclaim manufacturing scrap by sorting it, shredding it, and rein- tegrating it into new products. This is the circular economy in action. variety of reasons. Companies often are unaware that recycling and re- integrating their waste materials is possible. For this reason, these valu- able materials are frequently dis- carded instead of being repurposed or recycled. Thinking circularly, rather than in a linear way, allows companies to re- imagine what can be produced from these “single-use” scrap materials that would typically go to a land fi ll. Forward-thinking companies have an opportunity to take the scrap that would traditionally be hauled away and make it into something new, thus creating a new revenue stream. Having the tools to create that second life for that scrap makes it easier to create a product that gives and gives, rather than taking from the environment. It’s about think- ing creatively and putting the in- frastructure in place to reclaim this scrap. Madison Burt, CEOofWEIMAAmer- ica, Inc.: “As a country, we’ve had to shift our focus and bring recycling initiatives and infrastructure into our daily practices, and that includes into our manufacturing processes.” Recycling initiatives at Fiberon Fiberon, based out of New London, North Carolina, manufactures top- of-the-line composite decking. They do this by sourcing secondary poly- propylene scrap – which is strong and easy to use and reuse – from various companies and combining it Post-industrial waste as a resource Signi fi cant amounts of post-indus- trial waste end up in land fi lls for a Fiberon regranulate from PE plastic waste WEIMA S7.30 lift-up shredder with hydraulic drive fromHägglunds FiveWEIMA single-shaft shredders shred plastic waste of all kinds