SPI reappoints plastics recycler to handle NPE 2012 scrap

Once again, an Illinois-based recycler has landed the job of recycling all of the plastic scrap generated at next year’s NPE 2012 trade show in Orlando.

Maine Plastics, of Zion, Ill., has been appointed by NPE-organizer the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), to collect, separate, transport, and reprocess the production-line scrap, as well as such other waste as the PET bottles left behind by the show attendees.

The show will mark the fifth consecutive edition of the triennial NPE for which Maine Plastics has handled the job.

“Our goal is to equal or surpass the NPE2009 recycling program, in which we collected and recycled 95 per cent of the recoverable materials, amounting to 125,000 pounds,” said David Spitulnik, president of Maine Plastics.

That amount could grow substantially at next year’s show. “We expect to see a lot more scrap being produced on the NPE2012 show floor,” said Gene Sanders, SPI’s senior vice president of trade shows and conferences. “It will be the result of a substantial increase in the number of machines being shown in full operation.”

As a tie-in, SPI is organizing a PET recycling demonstration and exhibit designed to be an education and awareness platform for the industry. “Working with Maine Plastics, we will sponsor a live reprocessing demonstration, plus an exhibit of products manufactured from recovered PET bottles, such as fibers and clothing, strapping, and, of course, more bottles,” Sanders said.

Maine Plastics processes more than 140 million pounds of post-consumer plastic annually. The company has ten plants throughout the U.S. and plans to open a new facility in Utah towards the end of 2011.

NPE2012 will take place April 1-5, 2012 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.