Inspired Teen Upcycles Composite Material as Part of Eagle Scout Project
WINCHESTER, Va., (February 13, 2020) – A Trex deck built in 1999 has found new life and a new purpose thanks to an inspired Rhode Island teen. When the family of 14-year-old Nikolas Angell decided it was time to renovate their home’s outdoor living space, the aspiring Eagle Scout saw an upcycling opportunity that posed a win-win scenario.
Attracted by the brand’s durability and low-maintenance, the Angell family chose Trex decking to use around the above-ground pool in its backyard. After 20 years of use and enjoyment, the family decided to update their outdoor space, including a new, redesigned deck. But the Trex boards from the original deck still had a lot of life left in them.
In the process of pursuing Eagle Scout rank, the highest echelon in the Boy Scouts of America, Nikolas embraced the opportunity to use the old Trex boards to build an expansive bridge in a nearby forest preserve. With the help of 15 family members and friends, he spent nearly 300 hours, and repurposed more than 2,000 pounds of material, to build a safe walkway for his community. The completed 4-foot-wide bridge spans 75 feet across a stream and wet area, giving bikers and hikers a reliable path for years to come.
“I'm super passionate about the environment, so using a sustainable material like Trex, recycled from my old pool deck, was a massive bonus for me and made me even more excited about the project,” said Angell. “To see it all come together as smoothly as it did and being able to stand on that bridge at the end of it all was something I will never forget.”
Upon the completion of the bridge, Angell engraved the Boy Scout Law into the top pieces of the decking. He was awarded the Eagle medal and Palms from the Boy Scouts of America in a ceremony held near where the bridge was built.
“Nikolas’ unique approach to upcycling Trex deck boards, and his care to extend the eco-friendly impact of our products, echo Trex’s commitment to sustainability,” said Jim Cline, CEO of Trex Company. “The world could use more innovative thinkers and leaders like Nikolas.”
The entire high-performance Trex decking portfolio is made from more than 95% recycled material that diverts plastic from landfills and repurposes sawdust as a wood source to avoid cutting down trees. Each year, Trex reclaims more than 800 million pounds (400,000 tons) of recycled plastic film and reclaimed wood fiber in the making of its world-renowned outdoor living products. For more information about Trex, visit www.trex.com.
About Trex Company
Trex Company is the world’s largest manufacturer of high performance wood-alternative decking and railing, with more than 25 years of product experience. Stocked in more than 6,700 retail locations worldwide, Trex outdoor living products offer a wide range of style options with fewer ongoing maintenance requirements than wood, as well as an environmentally responsible choice. For more information, visit trex.com. You also can follow Trex on Twitter (@Trex_Company), Instagram (@trexcompany) Pinterest (trexcompany), or Houzz (trex-company-inc), “like” Trex on Facebook, or view product and demonstration videos on the brand’s YouTube channel (TheTrexCo).