Trex Company Makes Plastic Scholastic

It’s easy being green! That’s the message Trex wants to convey to students across the country. In honor of America Recycles Day on November 15, Trex Company, the world’s number one premium decking and railing brand, will kick off its annual Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge.

The program encourages K-12 students to compete against one another to see who can collect and recycle the most polyethylene plastic. The national and regional winning schools receive beautiful Trex products.

“In addition to promoting fun, healthy competition, the Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge provides students with a better understanding and appreciation for the importance of recycling,” said Stephanie Hicks, material resource coordinator for Trex Company. “Last year, 607 schools from across the country participated and, together, collected more than 273,123 pounds of plastic film – which would fill seven tractor trailers with plastic film.”

One of the largest recyclers of plastic in North America, Trex uses more than 1.5 billion plastic bags each year to make beautiful composite products that offer a superior alternative to wood and an environmentally-responsible choice for consumers.

In fact, a standard 16-foot Trex deck board contains recycled material from approximately 2,250 plastic bags. By motivating schools to participate in the Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge, thousands of students across the country have prevented millions of plastic bags from ending up in landfills.

“The fact is, being green is in our DNA,” says Jim Cline, president and CEO of Trex Company. “By enrolling more schools in the Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge, we’re helping to generate more socially responsible students while also furthering our mission to create environmentally-friendly outdoor living spaces.”

The Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge is easy to implement for schools of any grade level and size. Participants receive a turnkey kit complete with detailed instructions, promotional materials, recycling bins and a list of qualifying recyclable materials, which include everyday items such as:

• Grocery and retail bags
• Bread bags
• Case overwraps
• Dry cleaning bags
• Newspaper sleeves
• Ice bag
• Ziploc and other reclose-able bag
• Produce bags
• Bubble wrap
• Salt bags
• Cereal bags

Participants weigh and report collection totals to Trex each month throughout the program before delivering the recycled plastic to designated Trex drop-off points in their communities.

National winners and regional finalists will be announced in conjunction with Earth Day on April 22, 2019. All participating schools will receive an award made from Trex deck boards. The national winners will receive a Trex composite bench and regional finalists will receive Trex bird feeders to help beautify their school playgrounds or campuses.

The 2018-19 Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge begins November 15. Register early to receive your supplies by completing the online form at http://www.trex.com/recycling/recycling-programs/. For more information, visit Trex.com/Recycling.