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used about 50 percent of Pittsburgh-Corn- In the commingled stream. a percentage 8 in-'s costs are from using virgin materials." of nonmarketable plastics are collected he says. "`4e will have some costs to clean (PET and HDPE, numbers one and two, are TO avoid IOSIna and crush the recycled glass, but we figure consistently marketable, but other resins O we will be able to save about 25 percent of are not). Cougle's also accepts shrink wrap, revenues and that(feedstock)cost." drums and other commercial plastics. RGP is still a long way from its ultimate "When you add up all of the plastics num- paying d1SpOSaI goal — manufacturing a new product from bered three to seven, you end up disposing Q recycled glass.The next step is to design the of as much as you are recycling, fees says Robert C Ouo le oven used to manufacture the product, a Cougle, company owner. p purchased plastic step which Solomon estimates will cost To avoid losing revenues and aging dis- $200,000. After that, a manufacturing posal fees, Cougle purchased plastic lumber lumber plant will have to be designed. These steps manufacturing equipment to create his own are going to require outside investors. No market for the residual resins. The $1 mil- manufacturing specific timetable has been set for having lion investment includes shredding, grind- products flow off of the.assembly line, ing, mining(i.e. a tank) and extruding ma- equipment t0 Create Solomon says. Through it all, Solomon and chinery. The company is now capable of his own market for Newell have earned revenues by operating producing a variety of dimensional lumber a side business, RGP Dental, which mar- products. Fine-tuning the process took up a the residual resins. kets dental equipment. large part of 1996,and only in the last three CREATING A MARKET FOR LOW6RADE PLASTIC months has serious marketing been taking place. Cougle sells directly to individuals Cougle's Recycling Inc. of Hamburg, and businesses, and is now trying to break Pennsylvania, has been in business for 50 into the mass retailing market. years. For many years,the company's niche Although plastic lumber is more expen- was sorting paper and recovering other sive than real wood, Cougle believes there scrap from commercial clients. Since Penn- are significant potential markets for spe- sylvania's recycling law went into effect, cialty applications, such as marine con- Cougle's has processed more residential re- struction and outdoor decking.He adds that cyclables.Currently,the company sorts sev- pressure treated lumber has a tendency to eral hundred tons/day of residential and generate leachate which may be regulated commercial paper for recycling, and about or at least avoided in certain circumstances. 35 tons/day of commingled containers from "I do believe that plastic lumber is the prod- curbside programs. uct of the future." —R.S.■ cien : in w tuaun ed aroun the: ammeters of optiiid�ecom_posl`�•h'on.an m VJK Sandberger Compost'lurners T pT'Compost Covers =14 rr.••:�• Compost NIOmtonng&Test K1tS ` o • Coasulting/Testing `- - _ • Composting Seminars - - For further information call: Autrusa,Inc. Your Benefits: P.O.Box 1133 Blue Bell,PA 19422 USA Phone(610)815-2973.Fax-39V- E-mail:autrusa@aoi.com • Easy to learn it Website:www.worldanthem com/autnua • Reduction of waste volume • Guaranteed compost quality „ ` • Low construction r intenance cost �`�'• • No odor problems ; • No groundwater pollution "Iqq■■.- BIOCYCCE NOtieMSE31996 37