| December 13, 2001
News Release A new recycled plastic bag, called the ReBag, is ensuring this year's holiday purchases are more environmentally friendly. ReBag is the newest product from American Plastic Manufacturing, Inc. (APM) of Seattle. The bag is made from 30 percent post-consumer recycled plastic and is available to retail and grocery store outlets throughout the region. This summer, APM joined a network of other area businesses that are partners in the LinkUp program, sponsored by the King County Solid Waste Division. Begun in April 2000, LinkUp encourages businesses and manufacturers to incorporate more recycled materials into their products. The program uses a team of specialists to offer free information resources, technical expertise and promotional assistance to eligible businesses throughout Puget Sound. Last year, APM used more than 300,000 pounds of recycled plastic gathered from curbside collection programs in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. That is the equivalent of 1.5 million plastic milk jugs diverted from the waste stream. Since 1995, APM has recycled about 10.5 million plastic milk containers. The strong and durable ReBag is the result of several years of research. In the mid-1990s, American Plastic Manufacturing developed a process that allowed the company to incorporate up to 30 percent post-consumer recycled plastic in the manufacture of grocery bags. The company is one of the few manufacturers in the Pacific Northwest using this innovative technology. After the recycled milk jugs are collected in curbside programs, the containers are made into beads of recycled resin at a reprocessing plant and shipped to American Plastic Manufacturing. Here they are heated and extruded into a large hollow plastic "tube." The plastic tube is then converted into grocery or retail bags and printed according to customer specifications. American Plastic Manufacturing products are available from most local packaging distributors. The LinkUp program works with six to 12 businesses annually, offering technical, promotional or marketing assistance customized to meet individual business needs. Other participating businesses in Washington include: Allied Floors, Seattle; Brandrud Furniture, Auburn; MetaMorf, Seattle; Recovery One, Tacoma; Recycled Plastics Marketing Inc., Redmond.; TriVitro Corporation, Kent, and Y.K. Products, Everett. Currently, LinkUp is seeking additional manufacturers and entrepreneurs using recycled materials in their products to apply for participation in the program. Businesses interested in learning more about the LinkUp program should contact Erv Sandlin, LinkUp program manager at (206) 296-0233, or visit http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/linkup/. Related Information |
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