WINCHESTER, Va., October 31, 2022 – Residents of Northern Virginia and the Chesapeake region can now bring more than used clothing and household items to Goodwill. Through a regional partnership between three independent Goodwill organizations – Goodwill of Delaware, Goodwill of the Chesapeake (serving Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia) and Goodwill of Delaware County, PA – and Trex Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of wood-alternative decking and railing – Goodwill centers across these areas are serving as drop-off locations for recycling discarded plastics to be repurposed into high-performance Trex composite decking via the company’s NexTrex® recycling initiative.
Built on eco-friendly values, Trex’s world-famous composite decking is sustainably made from 95% recycled materials, including a mix of industrial wood scrap and polyethylene (PE) plastic film upcycled from common household items such as grocery/shopping bags, sandwich bags, case overwrap, newspaper sleeves and more. Each year, the company repurposes in excess of one billion pounds of reclaimed materials in the making of its products, including more than 430 million pounds of plastic film, making it one of the largest recyclers of PE in North America.
Because polyethylene film cannot be recycled in curbside bins with other recyclable materials, such as paper, cardboard and glass, the NexTrex program offers simple ways for consumers and organizations to dispose of their household plastic waste. Through a network of more than 32,000 grocery stores, retail partners and community organizations, Trex works with partners across the country to responsibly recycle commercial, industrial and post-consumer plastic film via warehouse and front-of-house collection programs. Materials are then sent to local distribution centers where they are sorted and shipped to Trex’s manufacturing facilities in Virginia and Nevada to be upcycled into durable, beautiful and eco-friendly composite decking and outdoor living products.
“Organizations like Goodwill are ideal partners for our NexTrex program,” said Stephanie Hicks, materials sourcing manager for Trex Company. “Like Trex, they are committed to bettering the communities they serve and the world at large. Making this partnership even more meaningful is its proximity to Trex’s headquarters in Winchester, Virginia. Many of the participating Goodwill locations are in communities where our employees live so where they will be able to see and feel the impact firsthand.”
The regional Goodwill collaborative anticipates diverting in excess of 300,000 pounds by the end of 2023.
“Plastics are one of the largest categories of items that we end up sending to landfills,” said Leah Williams, VP of brand and community engagement for Goodwill of Delaware. “We’ve come together to…collectively solve this issue.”
“For over one hundred years, Goodwill’s nonprofit mission has been to provide workforce development services to those with barriers to employment while operating a business model that, by its nature, protects the environment. We recycle every day, and finding a source to recycle plastic film will help reduce waste,” noted Catherine Meloy, president and CEO of Goodwill of Greater Washington.
Residents in the Chesapeake region interested in contributing to the NexTrex program are encouraged to bring any of the following items to their local Goodwill locations for recycling: plastic films labeled with a #2 or #4 recycling symbol, ice bags, wood pellet bags, salt bags and cereal box liners. All materials must be clean, dry and free of residue.
For more information about responsibly recycling plastic film, go to NexTrex.com. To learn more about Trex Company and its high-performance, eco-friendly outdoor living products, visit Trex.com.
About Trex Company, Inc.
Trex Company is the world’s largest manufacturer of high performance wood-alternative decking and railing, with more than 30 years of product experience. The #1 brand in outdoor living is proud to have been named one of 2022’s 50 Best U.S. Manufacturers by Industry Week and to have made Forbes’ 2021 List of America’s Best Mid-Sized Companies. 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 a truly 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 (@trexcompany), or view product and demonstration videos on the brand’s YouTube channel (TheTrexCo).
Contact: Anna Figy
L.C. Wiliams & Associates
312/565-3900
afigy@lcwa.com