NewAge Industries recently announced that it has become a zero-waste organization. All of the tubing manufacturer's waste will now be reused, recycled or disposed of by combustion at a local energy from waste (EfW) facility.
"This has been a goal of ours as part of our sustainability program," noted CEO Ken Baker. "We went solar in 2011. Plant investments followed in the form of new windows, energy-efficient lighting, building insulation and high-efficiency motors and capacitors. Going landfill free was a logical step."
As a manufacturer of plastic and rubber tubing, NewAge generates waste material during the production process. Plastic tubing extruded at the start of a production run is a manufacturing by-product; it isn't used until the tubing meets the required dimensions. This scrapped material is reused and made into new tubing whenever possible. Some rubber tubing scrap is able to be recycled as well and is incorporated into other industrial products.
Each NewAge team member has two trash containers: a black one for non-recyclable waste and a blue one for recyclable materials, such as paper, plastic and glass. Separate containers store both types of waste outdoors before pick-up and transport to an appropriate facility. Used cardboard boxes and packaging are recycled separately into their own container, where they are compacted into manageable bundles for recycling.
Non-recyclable trash is taken to a nearby EfW facility and burned as part of an energy-recovery system. There, metals are removed from the waste and recycled. The remaining trash is burned and used to heat water. The heated water is converted to steam, which then drives turbine generators to produce electricity.
"We're proud to be part of an environmentally friendly solution to the challenge of waste disposal," said Baker. "It makes NewAge a better neighbor and supports corporate social responsibility. It just makes good business sense."
For more information, visit www.newageindustries.com.