Supporting the recycling industry in S.C. | 2012
Goal of zero Companies cut waste sent to landfill
Smart jobs
Recycling means paychecks
Matches made
Turning trash to treasure Sponsored by
速
In Partnership With
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
1
n A g n eki e S o r y e n Z a p o m T o n C r tio u o l u Y o S Is ? e l e b c a n d ia r l o f p m f o A C l l Landfi
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kes It Ta
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www.vlsrecovery.com Georgia
229.796.0082
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www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
South Carolina 864.962.9953
Tennessee
931.379.9642
Texas
936.372.0464
Contents 4
About this publication
5
About our Sponsors
6
Welcome from our partners
8
Upfront
12 smart Jobs Recycling means paychecks in S.C.
34
cover Story New goal: Zero waste to landfill Recycling is smart for reasons both economic and environmental. With that thought in mind, some of S.C.’s largest companies have cut their waste sent to landfills to zero. Read about how they did it. Cover and Table of Contents Photos/Sonoco Recycling/by Jeff Blake
18 smart Entrepreneurs Recycling startups grow economic footprint while treading lightly on environment 21 smart Web Your recycling guide online 22 smart Collaboration Turning waste into treasure 22
Profiles: Special Advertising Section
40 smart Thinking ‘Good to be part of the solution’ 44 smart Resources • Recycling Market Development
Advisory Council
• S.C. Recycling Council • Recycling Businesses in S.C. • Other resources
46 smart Product www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
3
About this Publication
W
hen we started creating the inaugural issue of RecyclonomicsSC, we assessed the project from creation-to-delivery to find the most environmentally friendly way to produce a publication focused on how to be more green. We quickly realized the breadth of what businesses must consider when focusing on the impact of business on the environment. We also learned that once you start making decisions with sustainability in mind, you often find more options for other environmentally sound choices. The most obvious place to start in the print industry is with the paper. We worked closely with our printer, Walton Press, and decided on a paper stock that was certified by the Forest Ryan Wilcox Stewardship Council. FSC promotes environmentally sound, Creative Director socially beneficial and economically prosperous management of the world’s forests. Paper producers and printers go through a certification process to ensure they adhere to FSC standards. Walton Press and the stock provider, Suzano Pulp and Paper, are both FSC certified. The paper stock you’re reading this on comes from eucalyptus seedlings, one of the fastest growing hardwoods in the world, so it’s more quickly replaced, and the forests are more easily managed. We also used soy-based ink instead of petroleum-based ink. The printing process is cold set, instead of heat set, which means ink dries using less energy. That allowed us to use an uncoated paper, which takes less energy to produce and can be recycled more easily. We hope you enjoy the content inside RecyclonomicsSC, and if you decide to recycle this publication, you can feel confident that you’ll be fueling the sustainability engine in the best way possible.
I
n economic development, there are three general ways to create jobs: recruitment of outside industry, fostering of start-up businesses, and growth/retention of existing companies. New Carolina SC Council on Competitiveness, focuses on the latter. We identify core industries where South Carolina already has an economic advantage and critical mass, and we help them to grow through cluster development. Cluster development increases productivity through competition, builds trust through collaboration, and increases access to shared resources such as skilled workforce and improved infrastructure. To organize a cluster, New Carolina convenes the top industry stakeholders and works to facilitate a vision for the industry. With the industry, we develop a plan to overcome obstacles for that vision enabling the cluster members to achieve more together than they can alone. We design solutions that make our companies more competitive in their industry by staying in South Carolina. Some of our key industries and their New Carolina initiated clusters are transportation, distribution and logistics — The TDL Council, the nuclear sector -- Carolinas’ Nuclear Cluster, insurance technology and services — ITs|SC Columbia’s Insurance and Technology Services Cluster, and the recycling sector — RecyclonomicsSC. New Carolina is very excited about the opportunities for growth and impact with the recycling cluster. This is a dynamic group of innovative people working in a very important industry with global implications. We are increasing our expectations for recycling participation without overburdening our citizens. As we say at RecyclonomicsSC — Small Changes, Big Returns.
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www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
President and Group Publisher | Grady Johnson gjohnson@scbiznews.com Vice President of Sales | Steve Fields sfields@scbiznews.com Accounting Department | Vickie Deadmon vdeadmon@scbiznews.com Managing Editor | Andy Owens aowens@scbiznews.com Senior Copy Editor | Beverly Barfield bbarfield@scbiznews.com Special Projects Editor | Licia Jackson ljackson@scbiznews.com Staff Photographer | Leslie Burden lburden@scbiznews.com Contributing Photographer | Jeff Blake Contributing Writers Mary Jane Benston, Holly Fisher, Ross Norton Creative Director | Ryan Wilcox production1@scbiznews.com Senior Graphic Designer | Jane Mattingly production2@scbiznews.com Graphic Designer | Jean Piot production3@scbiznews.com Director of Business Development | Mark Wright mwright@scbiznews.com Account Executive | Reneé Piontek rpiontek@scbiznews.com Circulation and Event Manager | Kathy Allen kallen@scbiznews.com Circulation, Event and Business Coordinator Kim McManus kmcmanus@scbiznews.com The entire contents of this publication are copyright by SC Business Publications LLC with all rights reserved. Any reproduction or use of the content within this p ublication without permission is prohibited. SCBIZ and South Carolina’s Media Engine for Economic Growth are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Mailing address: 389 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 200 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Phone: 843.849.3100 • Fax: 843.849.3122 www.scbiznews.com SC Business Publications LLC A portfolio company of Virginia Capital Partners LLC Frederick L. Russell Jr., Chairman
Corporate & Commercial Publishing Division
Welcome from our Sponsor Presenting Sponsor
速
S
onoco Recycling is proud to present the first
One of our top priorities is to provide education
publication dedicated to recycling in South
throughout South Carolina regarding the benefits
Carolina, RecyclonomicsSC. As a leader in
of recycling, both financially and environmentally.
recycling, founded in Hartsville, S.C., we are excited
RecyclonomicsSC gives South Carolinians the chance
about this unique opportunity to expand awareness
to communicate best practices, learn of existing
within our great state amongst a broad set of con-
efforts and understand more about this growing
sumers with ever-changing recycling needs. Sonoco
initiative to recycle.
Recycling is honored to serve the recycling needs of
Thank you for staying involved. We hope you will
municipalities, businesses and residents with our
let us know how Sonoco Recycling can help you
material recovery facilities (MRFs) and operations
achieve your recycling goals.
throughout the state.
Sponsored by
In Partnership With
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
5
State of Recycling from Commerce
Letter from New Carolina
T
more than 450 recycling
O
businesses and an estimat-
cling Reflex.” His opening
ed 20,000 jobs created by
paragraph was:
he green industry is strong in the
n July 25, 2012, the New York Times ran
Palmetto State. With
an article by David
Borstein called “The Recy-
this sector, environmental sustainabil-
“What if there were something
ity is proving to be good for business
that could create 1.5 million new
in South Carolina.
jobs, reduce carbon emissions equal
As the state’s recycling businesses
cut dependence on foreign oil, in-
choose South Carolina as the perfect
crease exports, save water, improve
place to go green and make green, we
air quality and reduce toxic waste?
are well-positioned to support and
What if it were low-cost and readily
promote this industry.
implemented? Wouldn’t everyone do
The state’s success and increas-
Bobby Hitt
S.C. Secretary of Commerce
to taking 50 million cars off the road,
continue to grow and new companies
ing reputation in the recycling sector show that we are on the right track:
George Fletcher Executive Director Emeritus
it? At a time of wildfires, droughts and persistent unemployment, wouldn’t it be a centerpiece of the presidential campaign? Well, there is such a thing.
•
•
In 2011, the recycling industry announced $333
South Carolina currently has more than 450 recycling
jobs with 15 new or existing companies investing in
companies. Since 2006, the state has announced $4 billion
South Carolina.
in investments and 6,000 jobs, according to the S.C. Depart-
South Carolina has four times more jobs in recy-
ment of Commerce. Many of these jobs are in rural areas.
cling per capita than California or Massachusetts, •
•
It’s called recycling.”
million in capital investment, a creation of over 800
In 2011, the state recycled only 27.7% of the potential
both of whom are leaders in recycling
material. Every 10% increase beyond this 27% represents
State recycling programs and initiatives divert
2,000 jobs and another billion dollars in investment. If we
thousands of tons of materials from landfills and
could reach the RecyclonomicsSC goal of 70%, we would
recycle them for productive functions
be looking at another 8,000 jobs and $2.4 billion in invest-
Local governments, commercial businesses and
ments. This is an enormous opportunity.
recyclers alike have access to an abundance of recycling markets in South Carolina. Recycling and responsible material management make
RecyclonomicsSC is currently generating a menu of policy options that could be adopted, including: •
bans on specific materials to landfills
•
pay-as-you-throw strategies that provide economic
a difference. Engaging in recycling ensures that these products go to recyclers close by. The benefit is direct – companies grow, resulting in more local jobs and tax revenues. South Carolina’s green state of mind is further demonstrated by Commerce’s Recycling Market Development Advisory Council and staff’s combined efforts to attract and develop businesses in our state. From entrepreneurs who provide new recycling busi-
incentive to recycling •
financial and/or non-financial incentives for becoming a zero waste facility
RecyclonomicsSC will hold their annual legislative day on Feb. 20, 2013. RecyclonomicsSC has contracted with New Carolina to provide management and executive director services. I will be serving as their executive director from New Carolina’s
ness options to flagship companies that convert recycled
Greenville office. The entire New Carolina team looks for-
materials, South Carolina’s recycling industry is leading
ward to working with RecyclonomicsSC and growing this
the way in the green economy.
dynamic business.
6
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
RecyclonomicsSC boosts greening of South Carolina
T
ruly nothing could be finer than Greening of Carolina, and there is no better example of green than RecyclonomicsSC. RecyclonomicsSC, an initiative of
the S.C. Recycling Council, is a new business-oriented organization in the state focused on recovery of recyclable material for industry growth. While many groups have been singing the environmental praises of recycling for years, RecyclonomicsSC
packaging containers, and materials to recycle. South
is helping companies in South Caro-
Carolina’s recycling rate of 27.7 percent is low compared to
lina to lead the charge in recycling
many other states and the national average of 34.1 percent.
with resounding bottom-line benefits.
So, how can we all sing from the same sheet of music?
Businesses recognize that the small
RecyclonomicsSC will work with its partners in recycling to
changes made by subscribing to the
help raise the recycling rate by:
lean, clean and green mantra of recy-
•
cling lead to big returns for them and
Tina Green Huskey
RecyclonomicsSC
their communities. RecyclonomicsSC
about recycling’s economic value •
businesses then download economic benefits from recycling made up of en-
•
Working with universities, industry and other partners to identify technical solutions to roadblocks
creation, avoided emissions, and corporate sustainability.
hindering growth in recycling •
a national leader in the recycling industry in terms of job creation, investment and providing sustainable markets
Promoting policy to raise South Carolina’s recycling rate
ergy savings, material reuse, green job The RecyclonomicsSC vision is for South Carolina to be
Educating businesses, people, and elected officials
Addressing supply chain gaps and recruit industry to the state
•
Fans of RecyclonomicsSC recognize that recycling
for recyclable materials. So, how are we doing on the vi-
not only creates new opportunities, but it also sup-
sion quest?
ports local governments and commercial business-
On the job creation, investment, and markets front, South Carolina has other states beat. •
20,000 jobs in recycling
•
$4 billion in investment since 2006;
• •
es by providing access to an abundance of recycling markets. From the greening of the environment to the greening
$333 million of that in 2011
of corporate bottom lines, RecyclonomicsSC is the per-
4 times more jobs in recycling per capita
sonification of South Carolina’s ability to harmoniously
than California or Massachusetts
assemble people, industry, academia and ideas with a posi-
475 recycling businesses
tive economic outcome. I welcome you to make a small
What is the issue, then? We are doing great in recycling, right? No, not exactly. Despite the fact that we have a ro-
change today and join us for a big return to the quality of life we all enjoy in South Carolina!
bust industry, South Carolina is at a recycling cliff for available recycled material supply, where materials destined for
Tina Green Huskey, Chair
the landfill dwarf those destined for recycling. Companies
RecyclonomicsSC, an initiative of the
are facing a critical shortage of recycled bottles, cans,
South Carolina Recycling Council
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
7
Upfr nt Recycling is not only smart: It is huge in South Carolina. More than 475 companies, large and small, make recycling their business. About 20,000 South Carolinians work in recycling every day. Here are a few facts about why recycling is important.
$11 billion
1.4 Pounds
Estimated total economic impact of
of MSW recycled per person per day in S.C.
recycling in S.C. for 2011 Source: The 2011 S.C. Solid Waste Management Annual Report
385,856,726
S.C.’s recycling efforts have resulted in an environmental impact equivalent to conserving this many gallons of gas.
Source: The 2011 S.C. Solid Waste Management Annual Report
Recycling 1 glass bottle will save enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for 4 hours.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
Recycling defi
Municipal So
lid Waste (M
nitions
SW) The combine d residential and commercia waste genera l solid ted in an area . MSW include cans, bottles, s paper, food scraps, ya rd trimmings items. Indust and other rial process w aste, agricultu mining waste ra l waste, and sewage slu dge are not co MSW. nsidered Recycling Rate
The measure ment of activ ities by which materials are discarded collected, sorte d, processed an verted into ra d conw materials an d used to mak products. e new
Recycling 1 aluminum can will run a computer for 3 hours.
Source: Aluminum Association
8
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
Total Solid W aste (TSW
) Includes not only MSW bu t construction tion debris, pr and demoliocess waste an d any other m that is genera aterial ted. Source: S.C. De partment of He alth & Environ Control’s Office mental of Solid Waste Reduction & Re cycling
Recycling... It’s what we do.
We see waste as a potential resource and create opportunities for recovery that reduce cost, increase profit and decrease environmental impact.
Corporate Office Ninety Six, SC 864-543-9912
CU-ICAR Office Greenville, SC 864-214-7127 www.mumfordindustries.comwww.RecyclonomicsSC.com
9
Upfr nt
Retro recycling As it turns out, one of our country’s older charities was into recycling more than 100 years ago. Goodwill Industries was “organized to save material waste and turn it into human well-being,” wrote its founder, the Rev. Edgar Helms. A few numbers: In the Upstate and Midlands, 39 million pounds of goods were donated last fiscal year. In the Lowcountry in 2011, 13.5 million pounds of recyclables were kept out of the landfill. “Our goal is to keep maximizing the value of anything
Wear your support on your car You can show your support for recycling with a special South Carolina vehicle license plate. The Reduce Reuse Recycle plate is available to all state residents for $30 plus
that has use,” says Crystal Hardesty, director of marketing and public relations for Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands S.C. As an example, Goodwill gets lots of T-shirts donated, Hardesty says, and some just don’t sell. So employees use an industrial cutter to transform the old shirts into 12-inch squares, repackaged as GoodWipes cleaning cloths. They’re big sellers at $1.29 per pound. Goodwill stores in South Carolina and across the U.S.
the regular registration fee. A portion of this fee supports
partner with Dell on computer recycling. Donated com-
the S.C. recycling industry, providing education and
puters are stripped of any parts that contain personal
increasing awareness.
information, and everything else – plastics, metals, glass – is recycled by Dell.
Grinding of the Greens When the holidays are over, the life of your Christmas tree is not quite ended. Many communities in South
A more recent addition to the Goodwill business model is shopgoodwill.com. Stores from all over post items for sale on this auction website.
Paper or plastic? Neither! The family grocery bag legacy lives on in Kristen Brown
Carolina collect the castoff trees and turn them into
of Pawleys Island. Her father, Gordon Dancy, invented the
mulch. In the Midlands and in Greenville, the Grinding of
plastic grocery bag, which went into use about 1980. Now,
the Greens is a well-established custom.
the plastic bag’s time has run out. To offer an alternative
Residents can drop off their Christmas
that is more fun, Brown invented MY ECO, a reusable shop-
trees at a number of points, starting the
ping bag system.
day after Christmas. Around the sec-
The bags are made of recycled polypropylene, the
ond or third weekend in January, the
plastic used in yogurt containers. The four-bag set has an
trees are ground into mulch, which
insulated tote for cold items, and one each for glass bottles
is given away free. But you’d better
and jars, produce, and dry items and boxes. The four hold
get there early! Other places that
a week’s worth of groceries for Brown’s family of four, and
have been recycling holiday trees
when full they fit neatly into a shopping cart.
are Beaufort, Horry, Kershaw and
Brown has a program with schools to sell bags as a
Oconee counties, and the city
fund-raiser. They can also be purchased from her website,
of Florence. Contact your local
www.getmyeco.com, at a cost of $24.95 per set.
government to find out about plans for this year.
“We’re headed toward zero waste,” said Brown, a recycling and waste reduction consultant. “I’ll do anything I can do to make it easier.”
10
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
Upfr nt
Economic Development Announcements Related to Recycling, 2012 Company
Investment
No. jobs
County
$900 M
300
Spartanburg
N/A
N/A
Darlington
$3.5 M
30
Spartanburg
BMW Nucor Corp. Pratt Industries
$16 M
26
Jasper
Michelin
Lowcountry Biomass
$750 M
500
Anderson, Lexington
Diversified Plastics
$2.5 M
15
Dillon
Grace Plastics
$1.2 M
16
Greenville
US Fibers
$5.5 M
48
Edgefield
Encore Container
$3.9 M
89
Greenville
PyroTec Inc.
$10 M
75
Charleston
$7 M
32
Spartanburg
eCycling
$23 M
18
Allendale
Con-Pearl North America
$14 M
51
Greenville
$5 M
18
Anderson
N/A
25
Berkeley
Polydeck Screen Corp.
Henry Molded Products Inc. McGill Environmental Systems
Source: S.C. Department of Commerce
S.C. can do
BETTER 1.2 million tons
$171 million
of easily recyclable material – paper, cans,
statewide net loss in unattained revenues and paid
plastic and glass bottles went to S.C. landfills,
disposal costs, as well as the missed opportunity for
2009-2011.
jobs and investments by recycling businesses and manufacturers, 2009-2011. Source: S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
11
s. Tires are shred proces fore the first be g, in eslie Burden) cl /L cy to into Viva Re pment.. (Pho e ui m eq co g ey in th dd age the shre checks tires as at could dam Ricky Jackson her debris th ot d an s m ri checked for
12
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
smart Jobs
smart Jobs
Recycling means paychecks in S.C. By Mary Jane Benston
M
arty Sergi sees enormous opportunity for job cre-
ager for recycling market development, says an additional
ation in South Carolina’s recycling industry, and
5,000 jobs have been added over the last five or six years,
he is helping it happen in Berkeley County.
counting jobs that were announced only through Com-
Sergi’s company last year established a tire recycling
and rubber products manufacturing facility in an existing
merce. Evaluating the impact of the industry in 2006, the econ-
plant in Moncks Corner. After retrofitting
omists estimated that for every recycling
the plant and moving a manufacturing
job in South Carolina, an additional 1.4 jobs
business there from China, Viva Recycling of South Carolina has 53 employees and plans to add about 100 by the end of 2013. Sergi plans to move beyond tires into other lines of recycling. “South Carolina’s recycling (rate) is one of the lowest in the country, so the opportunity is enormous. There are literally thousands if not tens of thousands of jobs that South Carolina does not have because
“South Carolina’s recycling (rate) is one of the lowest in the country, so the opportunity is enormous.”
were created though the ripple effect of
Marty Sergi Viva Recycling of South Carolina
economists concluded the recycling jobs
spending by firms and employees. At the time, there were 340 firms listed in Commerce’s directory of recycling businesses. The firms ranged in size from 1 employee to 553, and the average salary reported in the industry was $32,229. The were “relatively good jobs in a state where the average salary (was) reported to be
it’s landfilling most of its waste streams,”
$31,940 for all occupations in all indus-
he said.
tries.”
The S.C. Department of Commerce “conservatively” esti-
“Recycling makes jobs and brings paychecks to South
mates there are 20,000 recycling jobs in the state. In a 2006
Carolina,” said Ronnie Grant, chairman of the state’s Recy-
study, economists at the College of Charleston estimated
cling Market Development Advisory Council.
there were 15,600 jobs attributable to recycling activities.
What’s the potential for South Carolina to gain jobs
Chantal Fryer, the Commerce Department’s senior man-
in recycling? Grant and other leaders in the industry say
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
13
smart Jobs
Recycled rubber products can be used for mulch in landscapes and on play areas. (Photos/Viva Recycling) Viva Recycling processes shredded tires into mulch for playgrounds. (Photo/Leslie Burden)
that the success of recycling businesses depends in large part on the recycling efforts of households, businesses and governments.
landfills rather than going back into production.” Grant, a senior account representative for Sonoco, has over 40 years’ experience in recycling. The industry has
Recycling is like a “field of
20,000
dreams,” subject to the proverbial “If you build it they will come,” says Grant. “If the volume is there, they will come.” Unfortunately, however, in South Carolina recycling vol-
That’s how many jobs the S.C. Department of
says, and “hopefully, it can get bigger now with single-stream coming on line versus sortedat-the-curb.” In single-stream recycling, materials are mixed
Commerce “conservatively” estimates there are in when they are collected, and
ume is not what it could be. In a 2010 strategic plan prepared
the recycling industry.
for the recycling industry, the framers noted, “While technological innovation is increasing the recycling capabilities and applications well beyond imagination, there is a wealth of material being lost to
14
had a large growth capacity, he
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
then they are separated at materials recovery facilities (MRFs, pronounced “murfs” in
the industry). Municipalities converting from recycling bins to roll-cart collections usually have a 40% to 45% increase in collec-
smart Jobs
Tires are ground to the landscape mulch size, prior to being colored. (Photos/Leslie Burden)
tions, Grant says. Residents find it easier to get recyclables to the curb, and municipalities find them easier to collect.
Gerry Beauford inspects playground material as it is being made.
ing them into fiber. Commerce puts the number of recycling companies at
“It makes everybody’s life better,” Grant says.
more than 475 now. While the concentrations of recycling
If more recyclables are collected, MRFs could expand
operations are greatest in the populous Charleston, Colum-
their hours. And there would be more PET plastics, carpet,
bia and Greenville regions, numerous plants are scattered
aluminum, steel cans and paper going to the S.C. firms that
across the S.C. landscape, providing employment in the
crave those materials.
outskirts and rural communities as well.
And South Carolina could see more jobs. The education levels required for jobs in the recycling industry can range from high school to college degree-plus, Grant says. “There’s a lot of technology involved in these
In the Lowcountry tire recycling plant where Viva is operating now, employment was down to only six workers when Sergi, president and COO, arrived last year. “There was a trend where our scrap tires . . . were being
MRFs now.” The same is true in the processes that reuse
exported to China to make products from the rubber that
the materials, such as shredding plastic bottles and turn-
was recycled out of the tires to literally sell that product
16
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
smart Jobs
Marty Sergi of Viva Recycling says recycling Chris Misner fabricaties a catch-all plate for the first shred process at Viva Recycling. succeeds when it is driven by the private sector.
back on the shelves of Lowe’s and Home Depot, etc.,” Sergi
a training course that was tailored for the Viva jobs. The
says.
same hiring and training system will be used as the plant
“We started here again with the help of Commerce, bought all new equipment and retrofitted, plus brought the
expands, Sergi says. About 2 million scrap tires, mainly from South Carolina,
equipment from China to make the products that we’re
come into the plant now. The goal is to take that total to 5
making now.” The Moncks Corner facility and other plants
million when an upcoming expansion is completed.
use recycled rubber to manufacture PermaLife products,
Sergi says recycling is successful when driven by the
which are found in gym flooring, playground surfaces, ath-
private sector, with the public sector just helping. It can’t
letic fields, sidewalks and asphalt additives.
be based on government subsidies, he says. “Government
The S.C. Technical College System’s workforce training
subsidies ultimately don’t work. It eventually falls apart.”
program, readySC, helped Viva put employees in place by
“Recycling, wherever it’s given its fair chance and is
advertising a job fair and by assisting with interviews and
based on economics . . . then you usually can have a win-
the selection process. Trident Technical College sponsored
ner and you can produce a lot of jobs.”
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
17
smart Entrepreneurs
Recycling startups grow economic footprint while treading lightly on environment By Holly Fisher
S
mart entrepreneurs have the forethought and vision
DwellSmart offers a line of building products, including
to recognize an industry on the verge of growth.
wood, paint, lighting, plumbing, tile and carpeting. Plus, it
That’s the case with startups around South Carolina
showcases recycled countertops from fellow Charleston
who saw the potential of the recycling market and jumped in with both feet. Some have been around several years and others are just getting started, but all see what a pivotal role recycling, reducing and
green business, Fisher Recycling. Every product sold by DwellSmart must meet one or more of its core criteria: sustain, protect, conserve, reduce and share.
reusing play in our economy, culture and
DwellSmart has also partnered with na-
marketplace.
tional company TerraCycle, which recycles
The following South Carolina busi-
those often hard-to-reuse products like
nesses are turning trash to treasure,
drink pouches, yogurt cups and chip
providing recycling equipment and
bags. TerraCycle turns that trash into
helping homeowners and business-
a variety of products from lunch boxes
es take another step toward sustain-
and notebooks to totebags and jewelry.
ability.
DwellSmart is the official online retailer for TerraCycle, stocking and selling its
DwellSmart
products.
Charleston | www.dwellsmart.com
As recycling becomes more main-
Five years ago Mary Gatch start-
stream, a company like DwellSmart
ed DwellSmart with a mission of
fills an even larger need – especially in
providing products that not only
the green building industry.
improved the health of customers but
“Trends in recycling have been
were good for environmental health
driven by LEED certification and
as well. With a large showroom plus an online store, DwellSmart is meeting its mission. Products include gifts, toys, cloth-
that’s a really good thing,” Gatch said. DwellSmart partners with TerraCycle to sell its products made of recycled chip bags and drink pouches. (Photo/DwellSmart)
“As people are trying to build LEED houses or buildings, they are trying to get the points for using recycled
ing, baby items, personal care products, jewelry, office
content. We’re seeing more and more products that are
supplies and cleaning supplies. The company also sells
coming out and available.”
organic mattresses, home décor and gardening items.
18
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
smart Entrepreneurs
Becker Complete Compactor Inc. Columbia | www.beckercomplete.com When Keith and Cassandra Becker relocated to South Carolina from Pennsylvania in the mid-1990s, they were used to sorting their trash and recycling. But in South Carolina they found recycling was almost unheard of, Cassandra Becker said. So it made sense to focus their business on repairing roll-off and front-load container vehicles. But as time went on, they couldn’t shake the idea that, even though recycling wasn’t common, the companies that did have recycling equipment would have a real need for repair work. Keith Becker and his son went through a training program with recycling systems manufacturer Marathon Equipment to learn how to repair compactors and balers. That side of the business grew, and soon the Beckers decided to turn all their attention to the recycling side of their company. They sold off the other piece of the business and have been solely focused on Becker Complete Compactor for three years. In addition to doing equipment repairs in the Carolinas and parts of Georgia, they also sell used equipment and parts online to buyers all over the country. The company stays on top of new developments in the industry, such as the Bayne’s BEST Lift System that lifts and dumps a trash can into a larger trash bin. This device cuts down on workplace injuries caused by employees lifting heavy trash cans. The Beckers are also looking into a digester product that can turn food waste into water. These products that can save businesses money are
Fisher Recycling has added a reuse component with its recycled glass countertops, part of the GlassECO line. (Photo/Fisher Recycling)
quickly gaining ground in the recycling industry. “Busi-
Fisher Recycling
nesses will spend money for things that will save them
Charleston | www.fisherrecycling.com
money,” Cassandra Becker said.
Over the last two decades, Fisher Recycling has been collecting glass bottles as well as paper, plastic and old electronics as it helped Charleston-area businesses reduce their carbon footprint and eliminate trash from the landfills. Fisher Recycling educates its customers, helping them become more environmentally conscious, while creating a customized plan to help them reduce waste. “Tailoring each business to meet its optimal recycling program is our specialty and our goal,” Chris Fisher said. In recent years, Fisher Recycling has maintained its focus on recycling while adding a reuse component with the addition of its GlassECO line of products. This line includes recycled glass countertops and crushed glass used www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
19
smart Entrepreneurs
for landscape cullet for driveways and other decorative
its products in the United States, further reducing environ-
landscaping projects.
mental impact. Not even 3 years old, MantraMeds is work-
With sustainability at its core, Fisher Recycling also has a dedication to the community through local entrepreneurship and philanthropy. The company offers franchise opportunities in the Southeast with two franchises – Hil-
ing with hospitals and businesses that have a commitment to sustainability and green practices. “We love the local story,” Miller said.
ton Head/Savannah and the Grand Strand – celebrating
Earthspun Apparel
more than two years in business.
Greenville | www.earthspunapparel.com
SustainTex / MantraMeds
soda bottle or beer bottle after it’s tossed in the recycling
Greenville | www.mantrameds.com
bin? At Earthspun Apparel, those bottles become short-
Ever wonder what happens to that plastic water bottle,
Who knew medical scrubs could change the world? Jack
and long-sleeved T-shirts. But more than using the recy-
Miller and Jerry Wheeler did. With backgrounds in textile
cled goods to create fiber for clothing, the shirts also reflect
and supply chain operations, they saw how the textile
the color of their source material.
industry was changing and yet wanted to remain a part of
Available in Soda Pop Green, Beer Bottle Brown, X-Ray
the story. They combined their expertise to create scrubs
Gray, Water Bottle Blue and Food Tray Black, Earthspun
that are functional, fashionable and, most importantly,
Apparel clothing goes a step further in the recycling pro-
made with the environment in mind.
cess. By not using dye to create the color of the shirts, the
The company philosophy centers around the F.A.S.T Footprint approach – fair, accountable, sustainable and transparent – coupled with a desire to transform the U.S. textile industry.
Miller. “Plus it tells a really neat story,” he said. The company’s signature T-shirt contains the recycled plastic equivalent to more than six 20-ounce bottles. The
By offering scrubs, along with lab coats and surgical caps, MantraMeds’ objective is to use fashion and quality to create
shirts are made in the United States – part of the company’s commitment to do as much business locally as possible. In business less than two years,
a product that is also
Earthspun Apparel is still growing its
price competitive,
market and finding its niche among
Miller said. At lot of
green-minded consumers. Earthspun is
people think that be-
working with the college market on co-
cause something is green, it doesn’t have the per-
branded T-shirts and with the surfing community. Miller said his company is
formance
learning that as a startup it’s
of regular
best to connect first with that
stock and
green market. “Before, we
that’s just not
were taking green apparel
the case, he
to the conventional market
said.
and it’s taken us a year to
MantraMeds uses certified Texas organic cotton and recycled
20
company is also saving water and energy, said partner Jack
decide let’s focus on the green market. Let’s focus on the people who want green products because in the
polyester. The com-
conventional market it’s all
pany manufactures
about price.”
smart Web
Your recycling guide online
T
here’s a new place to go online to get information
Visitors to the website can find out about recycling
about recycling in South Carolina. An innova-
events, the latest recycling business news and the eco-
tive website, www.recyclonomicssc.com, has tips for
nomic impact of the industry in South Carolina.
manufacturers, businesses and consumers.
Tips for businesses and manufactur-
The site is the home for RecyclonomicsSC,
ers include conducting a waste audit and
an initiative of the South Carolina Recycling
looking for markets for recyclable items. For
Council. The cluster of recycling businesses
consumers, suggestions include learning
began meeting in 2007, and Recyclonomics-
about your community’s recycling pro-
SC was incorporated in January 2012.
grams, finding out where to take your re-
The new website went live on May 8,
cyclables, and buying products made from
2012, said Chantal Fryer, senior manager of
recycled materials.
Recycling Market Development at the S.C
The website also shows the state’s re-
Department of Commerce. “Its focus is on the economic value of recycling.”
cycling specialty license plate for vehicles, www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
It’s a part of carrying out the mission of Re-
and it helps businesses find ways to team up to recycle their waste products.
cyclonomicsSC: to grow South Carolina’s recycling econ-
Another online source for information about the re-
omy by promoting policy, building networks, developing
cycling business is through the S.C. Department of Com-
markets and increasing recovery of recyclable materials.
merce’s website, www.recyclinginsc.com.
Call Ecopreneur Elizabeth Garrison Rasor for a complimentary recycling consultation for your business.
Ever-Green Recycling is a woman-owned business specializing in commercial recycling services for offices, restaurants, hotels, manufacturing facilities, apartment complexes, and more. Ever-Green recycles paper, plastic, cardboard, bottles, cans, glass and electronics. We also offer educational training for companies on how and what to recycle.
Reducing Upstate Waste Since 2007.
(864) 230-9800 | ever-greenrecycling.com www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
21
smart Collaboration
Turning waste into treasure By Mary Jane Benston
S
outh Carolina companies are teaming up to keep
to a plant in Florence County, where the carbon fiber is
waste out of landfills, often while helping their own
reclaimed and reused in other products.
bottom lines.
In BMW’s collaboration with the ball manufacturer, the
Manufacturers that are looking for “green” ways to
automaker collects waste plastics from its assembly pro-
dispose of waste sometimes find that other manufacturers
cess and turns them over to Stee-Rike 3, which carefully
are quite willing to take those materials and use them to
blends them with fresh materials to produce hard plastic
make new products.
training balls for baseball players.
In one such partnership, the Upstate’s BMW plant, wide-
“We have quite a bit of plastics coming out of this plant
ly known for its green ways, supplies plastics to a Colum-
on a monthly basis,” says Wes Westbrooks, BMW waste
bia company that makes whiffle balls.
specialist. There is a demand for certain types of plastics,
In another collaboration, Boeing and other manufacturers who use carbon fiber composites are sending scrap
he says, but some types are “very hard for us to get rid of on-site.”
“Think about a Boeing 787. The material is used in that plane for, say, 30 years. Instead of it going to a landfill, we can reclaim the fibers, and then we can put them, let’s say, into a Corvette car for 20 years, and then let’s say when the car’s ready to see its end of life we could put it into a Trek bike, so you get multiple uses of a very good, advanced material called carbon fiber.” Jim Stike president and CEO, Materials Innovation Technologies
22
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
smart
Collaboration
Manage
Transport
Disposal
Recycle
Fully Integrated Industrial Disposal and Recycling Solutions. We manage and coordinate Recycling, Reclaiming, Disposal and Transportation of ALL hazardous and non-hazardous waste streams for your business.
The BMW plant recycles 95% of waste generated. When Stee-Rike 3 in Columbia needed plastics for its practice balls, the automaker gladly provided them.
The BMW plant recycles 95% of the waste generated, so
t 3FDZDMJOH 3FDMBJNJOH /PO )B[BSEPVT 8BTUF $BSECPBSE t 1MBTUJD t 5FYUJMFT t F8BTUF t $SBEMF 5P (SBWF )B[BSEPVT 8BTUF %JTQPTBM 4PMWFOUT t "DJET t "TCFTUPT t -FBE t 4BMWBHF 1VSDIBTF PG 0VUEBUFE 0Č 4QFD 1SPEVDUT t -PHJTUJDT BOE 4UPSBHF t 8BTUF "OBMZTJT BOE $IBSBDUFSJ[BUJPO t 4JUF 3FNFEJBUJPO t %FNPMJUJPO 4VSWFZJOH 4BMWBHF For More Information Contact: 492-A La Mesa Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 843.886.3596 | info@caroinc.com | www.caroinc.com 3URXG &RPSDQLHV RI 7KH 7LGHV (QWHUSULVHV
when David Jones of Stee-Rike 3 contacted BMW about his need for more plastics for his product, the automaker was “happy to oblige,� Westbrooks says. “BMW has been wonderful,� says Jones, “and we’re able to take a waste product that did fit our strict terms of quality in the plastic and make a very usable product out of it.� Stee-Rike 3 products “teach kids how to hit baseballs,� he says. They are used by college and pro teams and are sold by national stores. The arrangement with Stee-Rike 3 is a testament to BMW’s environmental consciousness, in Jones’ view. “Everybody thinks recycling’s an easy thing. It’s not,� he says. “To keep it clean and usable takes an effort. It’s easier to throw it in the landfill.� BMW workers handle the plastic well “because they’re professionals in everything they handle,� Jones says. “And we’re able to buy it at a price cheaper than the virgin prices, quite frankly.� The carbon fiber recycler, MIT-RCF, opened in Lake City in 2010. Jim Stike, president and CEO of parent company Materials Innovation Technologies, says manufacturers collect their scrap in reusable containers for shipment to the plant. Two of the main sources are Boeing, which sends material from Seattle operations as well as from its Charleston facility, and Trek Bicycles, which is in Wisconsin. Stike calls the solution “three shades of green.� The first shade is waste elimination, to the tune of 1.5 million www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
23
smart Collaboration
Trek bicycle frames are recycled at the Lake City facility of MIT-RCF. (Photo/Materials Innovation Technologies)
pounds. “Before we started our company in South Carolina,
goods back into production. On its website, the state
people were just throwing this in dumpsters and throwing
Department of Health and Environmental Control helps
it in the landfills.”
match companies that want to get rid of a material with
The second shade of green is really where the environ-
companies that need that material.
mental benefit occurs, Stike says. “It takes
For BMW’s Westbrooks, the collabora-
96% less energy to reclaim carbon fiber than it does to manufacture virgin carbon fiber, so if we can put a million pounds of carbon fiber back into the supply chain, that is a million pounds of carbon fiber that you do not have to produce from raw materials.” The third shade of green is sustainability. “Think about a Boeing 787,” Stike says. “The material is used in that plane for, say, 30 years. Instead of it going to a landfill, we can reclaim the fibers, and then we can put them, let’s say, into a Corvette car for
tions that help him find homes for waste
“Before we started our company in South Carolina, people were just throwing this in dumpsters and throwing it in the landfills.” Jim Stike president and CEO, Materials Innovation Technologies
20 years, and then let’s say when the car’s
and byproducts can result from referrals or the occasional sales rep who’s just driving by the plant and stops in. Many of the arrangements develop from connections within the recycling industry, however. “Because the recycling and waste field is such a small field, everyone kind of knows everyone else, so your name is usually given out,” he says. Westbrooks is a member of the state’s Recycling Market Development Advisory Council, whose members share ideas on a regular basis. “It’s a nice network we’ve created. We
ready to see its end of life we could put it
have connections ranging from South
into a Trek bike, so you get multiple uses of a very good,
Carolina going all the way to California.” For BMW it’s a
advanced material called carbon fiber.”
win-win, enabling the green-conscious manufacturer “to
Recycling trade groups and state government agencies try to encourage and facilitate efforts to put reclaimed
24
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
find homes and outlets for a lot of our hard-to-recycle products.”
smart
Collaboration
TOMATO PALMS® provides recycling solutions for in-office & curbside recycling services
You need it, we have it
A
n online “matchmaking service” is aimed at reducing waste by helping businesses exchange reusable materials.
The South Carolina Materials Exchange is available on
the website of the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. Businesses, nonprofits and governments are invited to list “materials available” and “materials wanted” on the site, www.scdhec.gov/scme. Items from A to Z (abrasive bristle to Zep truck and trailer wash) are listed as “available,” while the items on the “wanted” side range from A to nearly Z (acoustical ceilings to white paint). The listings include electronics, glass, metal, paper, pe-
Our recycling program is simple, convenient and affordable.
1
Facility Walk-Through & Free Consultation.
2
Recycling Bin Placement Plan.
3
Flexible Pick-Up Schedules.
Tomato Palms provides long-term recycling solutions that are convenient, easy & affordable.This innovative approach offers recycling services for your offices, break rooms, kitchens and cafeterias.
Who we serve:
troleum, plastic, rubber, textiles and wood. Don’t see what you want? There are links to similar exchanges in Georgia and North Carolina. The S.C. exchange shows a “date listed” for each item. While some materials were recently added, many appar-
803.331.6626 | www.TomatoPalms.com
ently have been listed for several years. In some cases items stay on the list because the firms have ongoing needs. Staffers regularly contact the companies to ensure that their listings are current, says Mark Plowden, DHEC’s communications director. Anyone wanting to add a material may click on the “submit a listing button” and follow the directions. Listings are usually posted no later than the next day, Plowden said. Assistance is available at 800-768-7348. Information on the actual number of exchanges that users have accomplished is not available. However, the S.C. Department of Commerce communicates
CUTTING COSTS? Let’s start with your
– TRASH. –
to recyclers about the materials available through its electronic newsletter, “Recycling Newsbits.” The exchange can help users find valuable materials for free or less than the cost of new materials. Other benefits that are
CWS is a waste reduction and recycling resource firm. Our objective is to reduce waste cost through recycling efforts. With 15 years’ experience in the waste and recycling industry, we can design a waste and recycling plan specifically for the needs of your company. Stop paying trash companies to haul items to the landfill that other companies can reuse or recycle. Call us today!
touted include savings in waste disposal costs, profit from sale of surplus materials and conservation of
843-395-0373 | www.carolinawastesolutions.com
natural resources. www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
25
Asphalt milling and recycling
Cold in-place reclamation
Ashmore Bros. Inc.
M
ost people don’t realize how much re-
cycling goes on in the asphalt industry.
recycle roofing shingles into asphalt, a practice that is now commonplace thanks to the efforts of Ashmore
1/2 H ADVERTISER NAME
Upstate highway contractors Ashmore Bros.
Inc. introduced asphalt recycling procedures to South
Carolina years ago, and the company continues to
Bros.
The company also works with Clemson University
to grind up old tires, turning them into premium-
grow its efforts by recycling asphalt, concrete, tires,
grade asphalt. Ashmore Bros. brought that process to
and roofing shingles.
the state in 1992.
“Asphalt is 100 percent recyclable,” said David Ash-
The company’s recycling efforts not only benefit
more, executive vice president. “It’s America’s most
the environment, they also create a valuable product.
recycled product.”
“We’re looking for something that enhances the prod-
Ashmore Bros. was an early adopter of a technique that allows for in-place asphalt recycling, introducing
uct and doesn’t just get rid of it,” David Ashmore said. Ashmore Bros. crushes concrete from the demo-
the concept to South Carolina in 1991. Through this
lition of curbs, gutters and sidewalks, turning that
process, a reclaimer grinds up the road, reshapes it
concrete back into usable materials for new jobs.
and then a byproduct of asphalt cement is added to the base.
The company, which does private commercial and industrial work as well as state projects, also recycles
The grinding and reshaping is all done right on the
asphalt for driveways and parking lots. Any dirt
road, explains Mark Ashmore, company president.
filtered out of the recycled asphalt goes back into the
Rather than taking the old road pieces and hauling
roadways to build up highway new shoulders.
them off to a landfill, they take the existing materials and reuse them. The company also was the first in the state to
“We don’t throw any materials away,” David Ashmore said. “There’s no waste. A generation ago, it would have been dumped in a landfill.”
PO Box 529 Greer, SC 29652 864-879-7311 www.ashmorebros.com
26
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
Special Advertising Section
Community leaders and residents kick-off the Coca-Cola Recycle & Win program with the giant bottle toss.
A local resident places the Coca-Cola Recycle & Win sticker on her recycling bin.
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated
A
fter you finish a bottle or can of a refreshing Coca-Cola product, we want you to “Give It Back!” All of us at Coca-Cola are looking
win gift certificates for groceries when they recycle. The program is fun and easy. Residents receive a brochure in the mail with an opt-in sticker explain-
for new and creative ways to ensure that all of our
ing the rules. To participate, they put the sticker
packages get recycled.
on their recycling bin, place recyclables inside and
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (CCBCC)
place the bin by the curb on recycling day. The
believes recycling is a rewarding experience, so in
Recycle & Win Prize Patrol randomly visits neigh-
partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, we cre-
borhoods and rewards people for recycling the right
ated the “Coca-Cola Recycle & Win” program to en-
way.
courage our neighbors to experience it themselves. We partnered with cities and counties throughout
We continue to expand the program to new cities and towns across the Southeast. The Recycle & Win
our territory, including South Carolina, to promote
Prize Patrol could be visiting your neighborhood
awareness of good recycling practices. We teamed
soon – be on the lookout! In the meantime, practice
up with great retail partners like Harris Teeter,
recycling in your town. It’s good for the planet, and
Kroger and BI-LO, so residents in these areas can
that’s a winning strategy – no matter where you live.
Website: www.CokeConsolidated.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/CokeConsolidated Twitter: www.twitter.com/CokeCCBCC
Special Advertising Section
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
27
Nucor Darlington Mini Mill
Nucor Steel
1/2 H N ADVERTISER NAME ucor Steel - Darlington is a premier producer
120 pounds of limestone
of angles, channels, flats, rounds, rebar and
and 1,705 kilowatt hours of electricity.
hexagons. We are located in Darlington,
Take the 22 million tons of steel Nucor made in
South Carolina. Since beginning operations in 1969
2007. That’s enough electricity saved to power over
as Nucor Corporation’s first bar mill, Nucor - Darling-
6.5 million homes for a year.
ton has grown to become the largest bar producer in
While conservation of natural resources is by itself
the Southeast. We have a state-of-the-art 160-ton DC
an environmental benefit, it pales in comparison to
electric furnace supplying two highly efficient rolling
the benefits brought about by the reduction of criteria
mills. We produce special bar quality, merchant bar
pollutants released into the atmosphere. (Think about
quality, and reinforcing bar products.
all that coal we no longer need to burn.) Compared to
As the name implies, Nucor mini mills are small.
the blast furnace, the mini mill’s arc furnace releases
But their small footprint on the land is just one ben-
86 fewer pounds of pollutants into the air for every
efit to their very environmentally friendly nature.
ton of steel made. In a year’s time, that has the effect
For starters, a mini mill’s electric arc furnace requires much less in the way of natural resources. In fact, compared to the traditional blast furnace
of reducing particulate matter emissions by over 2 million tons. It all starts with recycling. By cleaning up our land
process, every ton of steel made the mini mill way
of scrap steel, we’re able to reduce mining waste by
eliminates the need for:
97 percent, air pollution by 86 percent and water pol-
2,500 pounds of iron ore 1,400 pounds of coal
lution by 76 percent. It’s a win-win situation.
www.nucor.com
28
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
Special Advertising Section
Special Advertising Section
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
29
A
Recycling Center is a direct-from-thepublic and commercial collector of aluminum cans, scrap metals, insu-
lated wire and lead acid batteries in Columbia. Their values have always been honesty and integrity and their goal is to be good stewards to the environment and their community. In
1/2 H ADVERTISER NAME
2008, they were awarded the “Best Small Recycling Business” honor from the S. C. Department of Commerce and RMDAC. Since 2001, A Recycling Center has more
than doubled the size of their business, staff and facilities. In 2011, ARC paid out over $1
million dollars into the local economy proving
A RECYCLING CENTER
BUYERS OF SCRAP METALS FOR RECYCLING South Carolina’s Best Small-Sized Recycling Company - 2008
that green business is good for South Carolina. We would love to help you with your scrap metal needs.
$ 5(&<&/,1* &(17(5
1009 Fontaine Road Columbia, South Carolina 29223 803-786-6690
1/2 H ADVERTISER NAME SC Tire Processing Facility
G
ot Tires? SC Tire Processing helps you get rid of your bulk waste and scrap tires in an environmentally friendly way. Our tire processing facility is designed for your convenience, security
and safety. We accept all types of tires to feed the renewable energy plant. It harnesses the energy to create clean power -- destroying the tires. Our team is ready to provide reliable, regular bulk tire pick-up at a competitive price. Our facility also accepts bulk drop-off of all types
30
19562 Atomic Road
of tires whether you have one or more loads. We are always hungry for
Jackson, SC 29831
tires. For more information call 855-259-3593.
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
Special Advertising Section
T
he challenge of meeting the needs of tomorrow’s marketplace is effectively addressed by building sustainability into your strategy,
business practices, operations and products. Understanding the complex issues that sustainability raises takes expert knowledge and experience across a broad spectrum of disciplines. Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) is a consulting firm dedicated to building solutions for our clients and their communities. We create value for our clients by understanding and bringing innovative solutions to
Contact a member of our southeastern team:
sustainability challenges. Businesses and communi-
Keefe Harrison: 864-760-8828
ties rely upon us as a resource for financially sound,
Matt Todd: 919-824-7377 Anne Johnson: 434-989-0167
effective and efficient implementation plans for their sustainable strategies.
WasteZero
W
asteZero® is the nation’s leading provider of proven and practical municipal waste reduction programs. WasteZero Trash Meter-
ing™ and pay-as-you-throw conversion programs save
1/2 H ADVERTISER NAME
money, increase recycling, and reduce waste 44% annually on average. Approximately 800 communities have diverted more than 3 million tons of waste and saved
WasteZero makes all of their plastic bags in South Carolina from recycled material. Above, blue plastic film in the manufacturing process.
$200 million in waste disposal costs with WasteZero. We tailor best-in-class and turnkey solutions to meet
any community’s needs—from program design to resident education and communication. And because we manufacture 100% of our supplies in our state-of-the-art facility in South Carolina, we know we deliver only the highest quality custom trash bags available. For more than 20 years, WasteZero has been work-
ing with communities to save money and reduce 8640 Colonnade Center Drive, Suite 312 Raleigh, NC 27615
Special Advertising Section
waste. Learn how we can do the same for you at www.wastezero.com or 800.866.3954.
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
31
Excellence Through Innovation
W
e specialize in polyester recycling and staple fiber manufacturing. Proudly made in the United States, our fibers are
1/2 H ADVERTISER NAME
in demand throughout North America and around
the world. Our vision is to be one of the world’s premier companies; innovative, distinctive and successful in everything we do.
Recycling is the world’s responsibility. At US Fibers, it is our way of life.
Various markets we serve: Automotive Home Furnishings Geotextiles Filtration Nonwoven Industry
30 Pine House Rd | Trenton. SC 29847 803-275-5023 www.usfibers.com
VLS Recovery Services
F
or VLS Recovery Services LLC, offering high quality, value-added services while employing exceptional ethical, safety, and envi-
ronmental standards is business as usual. That’s
1/2 H ADVERTISER NAME
because VLS is committed to being the most reliable, efficient, and cost-effective waste management and railcar cleaning service provider. With
facilities in South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee,
VLS is committed to being the most reliable, efficient, and cost-effective waste management and railcar cleaning service provider.
and Texas.
VLS uses its extensive residual management
and recycling program to help generators find a more efficient use of every ounce of their plant residuals. VLS offers a multitude of recycling and reuse options as well as used oil and waste-to-
energy programs, wastewater treatment, solidification for landfills, handling of universal and electronic wastes, site work services, and in-plant vlsrs.com
32
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
management services.
Special Advertising Section
CONNECTING BUSINESS in South Carolina SC Biz News is the premier publisher of business news in the state of South Carolina. We publish the Charleston Regional Business Journal, Columbia Regional Business Report, GSA Business and SCBIZ magazine.
Connect your business to our statewide audience. For information about statewide advertising, call Steve Fields at 843.849.3110.
cover Story
New goal: Zero waste to landfill By Ross Norton
Recycling is smart for many reasons, both economic and environmental. Corporations are taking on the challenge as their social responsibility. And now, some of the largest manufacturing companies in South Carolina are no longer sending any waste to the landfill. That’s right: zero waste. On the following pages, find out how they did it.
At Sonoco Recycling, newspapers are gathered for recycling. (Photo/Jeff Blake)
34
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
cover Story
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
35
cover Story
Workers sort through recyclables at Sonoco Recycling in Columbia. (Photo/Jeff Blake)
The arrival of BMW Manufacturing in South Carolina’s
It was a massive project that took buy-in from the top
Upstate in the early 1990s brought mostly jubilation, but
down with strategies ranging from puppet shows and
there were some who worried about the environmental
pizza parties to a “waste sort,” where each assembly team
impact of a large auto assembly plant. Today, more waste
dug through its own garbage to see what should have been
goes into the landfill from residences than from the vast
recycled. And in their opinion, virtually all of it should.
BMW plant.
In 2009, BMW measured its waste at 8.97 kilograms per
By the time the assembly line fired up in 1994, BMW had
vehicle produced. In August of this year, when the last
strict environmental policies in place and recycling efforts
landfill shipment took place, the ratio was down to 1.92
were part of the plant’s culture from the beginning. But in
kilograms per vehicle produced. That’s 4.2 pounds of land-
2011 those goals got lofty.
fill waste for each BMW that rolls off the line — about the
Lisa Pirwitz, section manager, led a plantwide effort to
weight of a half-gallon of milk. Since then, the assembly,
reduce waste destined for the landfill. As she researched
paint and body sections of the facility are operating at zero
what other manufacturers were doing, she ramped up the
waste to landfill.
goal to attain zero waste to landfill. For a plant with 4 mil-
“I think it was very exciting to see that it can be
lion square feet of space and 7,000 employees, it was a tall
achieved and it was fun to do,” Pirwitz said. “It was actually
order.
a wonderful feeling.”
36
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
cover Story
March 7, 2013 Baxter Hood Center at York Technical College 452 S. Anderson Road, Rock Hill, SC 7:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Enjoy morning and afternoon sessions on innovative and sustainable techniques, local field trip, exhibitors, breakfast and lunch! For information on attending, exhibiting or sponsoring visit:
yorkgreenbizconference.com
Top: Recycled newspapers are checked over by Sonoco employees. Bottom: Cars that do not meet BMW’s quality specifications are crushed and sent to a scrap metal facility for recycling. (Photo/BMW)
“Zero waste to landfill” is a goal catching on among industry leaders. It’s an ideal featured proudly on company websites and literature. Fruit of the Loom’s Palmetto Distribution Center in Summerville recently attained its landfill-free goal. Distribution Center Manager Jay Medlin said the impetus to keep waste out of precious landfill space comes from the top at Fruit of the Loom. “Corporate social responsibility — we’ve always done that,” Medlin said, so at his plant it wasn’t the corporate hierarchy that had to be sold. It was the employees. “We had to get them involved to take pride in it. Once they got involved, it was pretty easy,” he said. In 2010, the distribution center sent 67,000 pounds of waste to a landfill and recycled 1.16 million pounds. A year later, only 28,620 pounds went to landfill. By August of this
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“The LowCountry’s Leader in Metal Recycling” www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
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cover Story
A Sonoco Recycling employee watches over plastic jugs. The company collects materials worldwide. (Photo/Jeff Blake)
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www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
cover Story
BMW’s Green Team searches through employees’ own garbage to find items that could have been recycled. (Photo/BMW Manufacturing Co.)
year, nothing else was going to landfill, and more than 1 million pounds of waste had been recycled. For Fruit of the Loom, the effort to get buy-in from
The company now diverts 99 percent of all waste away from landfills and toward reuse and recycling, according to the Milliken website. Again, the company relies on its
employees at work spilled over into the community. The
employees to get involved in the effort and find solutions
distribution center also provided materials for employees
to waste problems.
to take home to encourage recycling there, too. Fruit of the Loom was recognized by Sonoco Recycling
A relative newcomer to the state’s manufacturing base, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation of Gaffney staked
of Hartsville as a gold-tier Sonoco Sustainability Star for
a claim at being the nation’s first chassis manufacturer
going landfill free. A subsidiary of packaging giant Sonoco,
and first company within the trucking industry to achieve
Sonoco Recycling is a big player in the recycling movement
zero waste to landfill status.
worldwide. The parent company works toward zero waste
The company was sending 250,000 pounds of waste per
to landfill in its own facilities and developed the Sonoco
month to the landfill when they set a zero-waste goal in
Sustainability Star program to encourage the same from its
2007. By October of 2009, the goal was reached.
customers. Worldwide, Sonoco Recycling annually collects more
Freightliner “was able to achieve these results by the continued efforts and diligence of all employees within
than 3 million tons of corrugated containers, paper, metals
the company, and we continue to seek ways to reduce
and plastics, according to spokesman Robin Montgomery.
our environmental impact in our facility and through our
Milliken, one of the state’s most venerable companies,
products and alternative fuel efforts,” said Roger Nielsen,
was out front early in the zero waste movement, even be-
COO at Daimler Trucks North America, parent company of
fore terms like “zero waste to landfill” were being bandied
Freightliner Custom Chassis.
about. A manufacturer of textiles and related products, the
Zero waste to landfill, while relatively new, is on the
company adopted an environmental policy in 1990 that
horizon for many companies as part of their sustainability
established a goal of zero waste.
efforts. www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
39
Joe Renwick, co-owner of Midlands Biofuels, takes a sample from a water purification system at the facility in Winnsboro. The biodiesel is washed with water. (Photo/Jeff Blake)
smart Thinking
‘Good to be part of the solution’ By Ross Norton
T
o a fry cook, it’s one of the final tasks of a long shift — disposing of a vat full of overused cooking oil,
waste. Midlands Biofuels is one of a growing number of
often with remnants of batter and food. The smelly
companies finding ways to make good use of challenging
oil can’t go down the sink or in the trash because it’s lousy
recyclables. Finding ways to reuse an aluminum can was
company for septic systems and landfills.
relatively easy. But other products were difficult: old mat-
But the bane of a fry cook’s day is gold for Midlands Biofuels and its customers. Since 2008, the Winnsboro company has converted spent cooking oil into biodiesel fuel. Their product so far has replaced more than 2.5 million gallons of petroleum diesel with a product once considered
40
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
tresses, oil filters and dead fluorescent lights, for example, weren’t easily spun into another product. For Midlands Biofuels co-owner and founder Joe Renwick, the magic came in the challenge. “It feels good to be part of the solution,” he said. “That’s
smart Thinking
A living roof tops a building in Charlotte. At right, sections of green roofing add to energy efficiency of a home. (Photos/Green Roof Outfitters)
what we are all about — solving fuel problems and waste
try,” he said. “We have partnered with nurseries across the
problems.”
country so if our customers want them grown out, they
The first step in the fuel-making process — collecting the oil — alleviates a problem for restaurant operators. It also created another avenue to service the restaurant
can get them grown out there, so it’s greener and much more cost effective.” One old idea — recycling oyster shells — is now a much
industry. Midlands Biofuels provides cleaning and mainte-
better organized effort, and instead of using the shells as
nance of waste oil receptacles at restaurants. The company
building material, they’re going back to the environment.
has created 15 jobs for the state and has built a second plant. Midlands Biofuels sells directly to the public from its
Restaurants such as Pearlz Oyster Bar in West Ashley collect the shells until they’re retrieved and secured by Fisher Recycling of North Charleston. The state Depart-
downtown Winnsboro location or provides fuel by the
ment of Natural Resources eventually returns the shells to
truckload to large users.
a marine environment for habitat restoration.
Another company putting a dent in the need for petroleum is Green Roof Outfitters of Charleston. The company uses recycled plastic to manufacture con-
“We think it’s very important,” said Emmy Teague Scott, marketing director for Pearlz Oyster Bar’s parent company. “We’ve been doing some kind of recycling as long as we
tainers for green roofs — modules that hold soil and living
have been in business. It’s important to us to give back to
plants on the rooftop, with benefits ranging from reduced
the communities that nurture us.”
water runoff to energy savings and pollution reduction for the building’s owner. Owner Michael Whitfield designed his whole company
Oyster recycling is a challenge because of the odor and weight, but Fisher Recycling owner Chris Fisher says reusing the shells can reduce a restaurant’s waste stream by
around green concepts, from practices in the shop to his
25 percent. The cooperation of restaurants, recyclers and
philosophy of doing business. Unlike other green roof sup-
state and federal agencies are making it work.
pliers who require customers to buy the complete system,
Others tackling tough recycling challenges include
he will sell the lightweight components to far-away cus-
Diversified Recycling of Rock Hill. The company, with a
tomers who can buy the growing media closer to home.
second location in West Columbia, takes on some of the
The modules that hold the plant life are made in the Upstate from recycled plastic once bound for a landfill. “It’s not as green to ship heavy plants across the coun-
messiest challenges in recycling such as used oil, antifreeze, solvents and fluorescent bulbs. Diversified recycles about 3,600 tons of material annually, according to a report
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
41
smart Thinking
An old idea comes full circle A hundred years ago, South Carolinians knew what was required to maintain oyster beds along the coast. In the 1930s, 16 canneries produced thousands of gallons of shucked oysters that were sent, often by ice-cooled railway cars, to New York and other metropolitan areas. The shells left behind were planted back on the stateleased oyster beds in the summer to sustain the fishery. Shell is crucial to the oyster’s life cycle as cultch, a place for oyster larvae to attach and begin forming their own shells. After a few months, an oyster may grow to be as large as your pinky fingernail; in two to three years, the oyster will be around 3 inches long and ready to harvest. The state’s last oyster cannery closed in 1986, due to labor shortages and competition from canned oysters imported from the Far East. South Carolina’s market changed to an inthe-shell product largely consumed at backyard oyster roasts. Instead of being stockpiled at the canneries, the oyster shells were widely dispersed and found their way into landfills, road beds and craft projects. Recognizing that without planted shells, South Carolina would soon have no oysters, the Department of Natural Resources started its own oyster seed planting program in the 1980s. To address a chronic shortage of shells, DNR initiated a recycling program in 2000. Since then 192,618 bushels of shell have been intercepted and recycled, and 408,898 bushels have been planted on shellfish grounds. (Some of the shell comes from sources other than the recycling program.) As recycling awareness grows, DNR has been able to reduce its dependence on out-of-state vendors and long-range transport. Recycling now provides more than half of the planting needs. The Oyster Shell Recycling and Planting Program has set up 27 oyster shell recycling drop-offs in coastal counties, and DNR picks up shells from caterers on a regular basis.
by the S.C. Department of Commerce. Company founder Don Burnette Sr. saw a growing problem in used oil filters and developed a crusher that ex-
they are designed to spring back, mattresses are particularly greedy consumers of landfill space. Bogan opened Nine Lives Mattress Recycling in Pampli-
tracts the oil and creates a briquette. Steel companies then
co in 2006 and recycled more than 126 tons of mattresses
extract the metal from the briquette, most of which finds
and box springs in the first year. He calculates that to date,
its way to a new life in rebar, according to Don Burnette Jr.,
his company has saved 50,000 cubic yards of landfill space.
who helps run the company his father started. On another front, previous hotel and furniture store
That first year’s haul of mattresses produced 33 tons of metal, and many tons of recyclable wood, cotton and foam,
experience gave Ralph Bogan insight into the difficulties
reducing the original 126 tons of landfill waste to 21 tons,
associated with disposing of used mattresses. Because
according to Bogan.
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www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
OYSTER SHELL RECYLING By the numbers
192,618
Number of bushels of oyster shells reclaimed
QUALITY
and recycled in S.C. since 2000
408,898
Number of bushels of oyster shells planted
RELIABILITY PERFORMANCE
on S.C. shellfish grounds since 2000
27
Number of oyster recycling drop-off points in S.C. coastal counties
74
Number of state and public shellfish grounds where recreational harvesting is allowed
SERVICE
Quality, Reliability, Performance, & Service have been the tenets of Wellman Plastics Recycling (WPR) throughout its 40-Year history and this dedication has allowed the company to grow into one of North America’s leading compounders and suppliers of engineering and thermoplastic resins.
Wellman Engineering Resins offers a diverse selection of Nylon, Polyester and Polypropylene resin products built to fit any material need. Wellman Plastics Recycling, via its EcoLon® Product Line, is the only Resin Compounder on the market to offer a 100% Post-Consumer Recycled product. Not tied to the fluctuating price of oil, yet still meeting all of your nylon product specifications, EcoLon has quickly found a niche in the thermoplastic marketplace as the perfect raw material solution for the customer who desires to make a product that is: • Cost-effective • High quality • Eco-friendly Learn more about all of our innovative product lines at www.wellmaner.com
Your media source for statewide business news.
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
The desire to keep waste out of landfills drives a lot of companies and has led to an industry of people motivated to help the rest of us live more waste free. Companies like WasteZero in Murrells Inlet partner with municipalities across the country to create savings and sometimes produce revenue by reducing waste. WasteZero provides waste reduction programs that increase recycling. Programs include customized plastic trash bags that allow users to created a color-coded system of recycling.
For information about advertising in SCBIZ, call Steve Fields at 843.849.3110. www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
43
smart Resources
RECYCLING MARKET DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL Members appointed by the governor represent various interests in South Carolina’s recycling business. Paper Industry Representative Ronnie Grant, RMDAC Chair Sonoco Recycling Email: ronnie.grant@sonoco.com
Glass Industry Representative Kira Roff Fisher Recycling – Grand Strand Email: kira@fisherrecycling.com
SC Department of Commerce Representative Wes Westbrooks BMW Email: wes.westbrooks@bmwmc.com
Municipalities Representative Ed Marr, RMDAC Vice-Chair Greater Greenville Sanitation Commission Email: emarr@ggsc.gov
Solid Waste Industry Representative Norman Chandler Republic, Inc. Email: nchandler@republicservices.com
Petroleum Industry Representative Eddie Hook Safety-Kleen Corporation Email: eddie.hook@safety-kleen.com
Plastics Industry Representative Phil Ammons Plastics Provider, Inc. Email: philammons2@yahoo.com
Tire Industry Representative Dan Chuy Michelin North America, Inc. Email: dan.chuy@us.michelin.com
Higher Education Research Representative Donna London Clemson University Jim Self Center on the Future Email: dlondon@strom.clemson.edu
Aluminum Industry Representative Larry McCaskill Alcoa Mt. Holly Email: larry.mccaskill@alcoa.com
County Government Representative Vic Carpenter Kershaw County Email: vic.carpenter@kershaw.sc.gov
Recycling Industry Representative Glenn Odom Wellman Plastics Recycling Email: glenn.odom@wellmanplastics.com
General Public Representative Kristen Brown MY ECO Email: kristen@thewastesolution.com
Board of Directors Tina Green Huskey, Chair Recycling and Waste Specialist for Mumford Industries Ronnie Grant, First Vice-Chair Senior Account Representative for Sonoco Elizabeth Garrison, Second Vice-Chair President of Ever-Green Recycling Kristen Brown, Treasurer President of MyEco
44
Nancy Ogburn, Secretary President of Tomato Palms, LLC Steve Zagorski Vice President of US Fibers Donna London Jim Self Center on the Future Gerry Fishbeck Vice President of United Resource Recovery Corporation
www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
Parris Hicks Marketing and Advertising Manager for Leigh Fibers George Fletcher, RecyclonomicsSC Executive Director Former Executive Director of New Carolina
smart Resources
Other resources Asphalt Rubber Technology Service
www.ces.clemson.edu/arts Habitat for Humanity ReStores
S.C. Recycling Council Members
www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx Keep America Beautiful
www.kab.org
ACI Plastics Adams Scrap Recycling, LLC Alcoa Alfa Enterprises USA Inc. Carolina Interior Demolition Specialties Inc. Carolina Waste Solutions Inc. Cedar Green and Associates Ceres-SC, LLC Davco Steel Inc. Ever-Green Recycling Greater Greenville Sanitation Commission Horry County Solid Waste Authority Clemson University – Jim Self Center on the Future Johnson’s Garbage Service Inc. Mumford Industries Inc. Plastics Provider Inc. Recover Inc. Republic Services
Palmetto Pride
www.palmettopride.org S.C. Business Network
http://sccommerce.com/sc-business-network S.C. Department of Commerce
www.sccommerce.com S.C. Department of Commerce Recycling Market Development Program
www.recyclinginsc.com S.C. Department of Commerce Recycling Directory
www.recyclinginsc.com/directory S.C. Department of Health and Environmental ControlOffice of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling
www.scdhec.gov/recycle S.C. Materials Exchange
www.scdhec.gov/scme S.C. Recycling Market Development Advisory Council
www.recyclinginsc.com/rmdac
Resource Recycling Systems S.C.’s Council on Competitiveness S.C. Department of Commerce Southeastern Plastics Recovery Inc. Southpaw Marketing Group Tomato Palms, LLC Total Product Destruction United Resource Recovery Corporation
S.C. Smart Business Recycling Program
www.scdhec.gov/environment/lwm/recycle/smart_business/index.htm Sustainability Index
www.scdhec.gov/environment/admin/CES/cesindex.htm Solid Waste Association of North America – SC Chapter
http://scswana.org S.C. Energy Office
U.S. Fibers
www.energy.sc.gov
Viva Recycling of South Carolina, LLC
S.C. Biomass Council
WasteZero
www.scbiomass.org S.C. Green Building Directory
www.scgreenbuildingdirectory.org
Recycling Businesses in S.C. For a list of businesses involved in the state’s recycling efforts, go to www.recyclinginsc.com/directory and follow directions there.
S.C. Sustainability Institute
www.sustainabilityinstitutesc.org U.S. Green Building Council – SC Chapter
www.usgbcsc.org U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
45
smart Product What happens to all those plastic bottles South Carolinians recycle? At least some of them are turned into REPREVE, a fiber made from recycled materials, including post-consumer plastic bottles. The fiber is then used to make high quality fabrics and other products. Here are some of the cool products made with REPREVE. (Photos/REPREVE)
By using REPREVE, Ford saved over 2 million bottles from the landfill. REPREVE was chosen for the 2012 and 2013 Ford Focus Electric and a number of the 2013 Fusion models.
A fleece jacket from the durable, soft PolartecÂŽ 300 series is made with more than 70% REPREVE content and uses 40 bottles in each garment.
This year, more than 760,000 grads from nearly 500 schools turned the tassel in green gowns made with REPREVE.
Lauren Conrad’s XO(eco) line by Blue Avocado marks the first celebrity portfolio designed with REPREVE and includes nearly 20 food-on-thego, travel and cosmetic storage accessories.
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www.RecyclonomicsSC.com
Excellence through innovation
U
US Fibers
1/2 H ADVERTISER NAME
S Fibers diverts everyday waste like water
fiber, so companies are interested in purchasing a
bottles into fiber that can be used for filtra-
recycled product, he said.
tion, home furnishings and the automotive
For example, US Fibers recycles off-color materi-
industry. The company purchases waste, scrap and
als, creating both light and dark fibers. So customers
off-grade materials and then recycles those into us-
in the automotive industry will take the black fiber,
able fiber.
blend it with white and make a felt material to line
The company started as a broker for compos-
trunks, Zagorski explained. That product – which
ite materials, expanded into recycling and now is
started out as a water bottle – is a less expensive op-
growing into a fiber manufacturer. “Our company is
tion for auto makers.
evolving,” said Steve Zagorski, vice president of new business development.
Recycled fiber is also used for landscaping fabric, as mattress and furniture stuffing, and turned into air
Since President Edward Oh founded the busi-
filters.
ness in 1994, it has grown significantly and this year
What would help companies like US Fibers grow
announced plans to expand its polyester recycling
even more is a higher rate of recycling among the
operation in Trenton, South Carolina, creating almost
general public. “There’s a lot of competiveness in
50 new jobs.
buying materials,” Zagorski said. “If we can get the re-
The company doubled its capacity in 2010 both in terms of employees and a facility expansion and is doubling again in 2012, Zagorski said.
it helps everybody.” He pointed out that 75% of water bottles end up in
Much of the growth can be attributed to the fact recycled fiber is simply less expensive than virgin
cycling rates up and more materials for the industry,
landfills, but those make a “wonderful raw material for us. They have excellent properties for turning into fiber.”
30 Pine House Rd Trenton. SC 29847 803-275-5023 www.usfibers.com
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