Go Green and Gain Green with NexTrex - Film Recycling

March 16, 2021

March 16, 2021


This guest blog is provided by Dave Heglas, senior director of supply chain excellence for Trex Company.


Got plastic waste? Trex Company would love to put it to good use. Trex manufactures eco-friendly, wood-alternative decking using a proprietary mix of reclaimed polyethylene plastic film and scrap hardwood, and we are looking to help retailers, grocery stores and distribution centers responsibly dispose of their plastic waste through our award-winning recycling initiative known as NexTrex®.


Through the NexTrex program, Trex makes it easy for retailers and distributors to repurpose the plastic waste they accumulate as part of their daily operations. Once enough material is collected, it is sent to nearby distribution centers where it is sorted, condensed and shipped to manufacturing facilities in Virginia and Nevada, to be used in the making of Trex’s world-famous decking and railing products. Adding to the appeal of the program, Trex compensates partners for the plastic waste they contribute.


NexTrex is a prime example of an initiative where everybody wins. Our retail and distribution partners win by providing their customers with an environmentally responsible way to dispose of plastic waste. Trex wins by collecting a key ingredient to make our products. And, ultimately, we all win by keeping tons of single-use and packaging plastic from ending up in landfills.


One of the largest recyclers of plastic in North America, Trex reclaims and repurposes more than 400 million pounds of polyethylene plastic film annually through its NexTrex commercial partnerships and community programs. Among its largest sources are grocery stores and other retailers who partner with Trex to responsibly dispose of plastic shopping bags and polyethylene film used to wrap products and pallets.


In distribution, plastic film plays a huge role in maintaining the quality of goods and ease of transport. Distribution centers have the ability and opportunity to consolidate this material for recycling. In addition to protecting the environment, this also saves on disposal fees and demonstrates social responsibility.


Currently, the NexTrex recycling program engages more than 30,000 stores nationwide and recently reached a monumental milestone – one billion pounds of recyclable material collected through participating retailers. And, we are continually looking to expand participation so that more partners can responsibly dispose of their plastic waste.


To help retailers and distribution centers determine whether the NexTrex program is a fit, here are some tips:


1. Start by calculating the amount of plastic film being generated at the facility/warehouse.

  • How many pallets are being unwrapped each day?

-Trex estimates approximately half a pound of film is used per pallet.

  • If the facility manages case counts, what are the annual case sales?

-Trex estimates that 10,000 lbs. of stretch film is generated for every one million cases (using 50 cases per pallet).

  • Consider any additional volume that could be backhauled from store locations and driver routes.

-This can significantly increase collection and waste diversion, while also potentially reducing disposal fees


2. Collect plastic film for a trial period and weigh it on a scale to project recycling totals.


3. Once an estimate has been determined, contact recycle@trex.com to speak with a Trex field representative and learn more about the NexTrex program.

-Trex offers baler programs, transportation options and promotional materials to help distribution partners optimize their involvement.


By giving recycled plastic film a second life as high-performance, low-maintenance composite decking, Trex provides a viable solution for distributors, retailers and others to the waste management and lifecycle issues related to discarded plastic film. The entire Trex decking portfolio is made from more than 95 percent recycled content, nearly half of which comes from plastic film packaging ranging from product overwrap and package liners to shrink wrap and stretch film used to palletize boxes and equipment.


We are proud to offer a destination and alternate use for our country’s growing supply of plastic waste. Through our NexTrex program, we hope to lead by example and inspire others to become part of the solution.


For more information about the NexTrex program and how to get involved, click here to watch an introductory video and visit Trex.com/Recycling.


Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

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Maryland webinar gives tips on countering misinformation

By Antoinette Smith • April 1, 2025
In recent years, the recycling industry has seen negative media coverage that has not only perpetuated myths but also contributed to public mistrust of collection and recycling – and ultimately could be contributing to lower collection rates. To help counteract the misinformation, the Maryland Recycling Network presented a March 27 webinar featuring Gretchen Carey, president at MassRecycle, and Chaz Miller of Miller Recycling Associates. Misinformation about recycling was merely “background noise” to Carey until October 2022, when Greenpeace published a scathing report about the failings of plastic recycling. Soon NPR and The Boston Globe picked up the story and compounded the issue with statements like “not even plastic water bottles are recyclable,” Carey said, calling this “a patent lie.” Carey and her colleagues were “crushed,” but after overcoming her initial anger, she reached out to NPR and the Globe to rebut the story. She also tried to get other local publications to publish her written response to the negative coverage but was rebuffed. Seeing that these efforts weren’t going far, MassRecycle invited members of the media and the general public on MRF tours at several sites in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Providing real-time evidence of recycling infrastructure helped industry outsiders step out of the echo chamber and hear a contrasting perspective, Carey said in the webinar. “You can talk the game, but them seeing for themselves is the important part,” she explained. During the tours, the public attendees learned that throwing away recyclables deprives the community of valuable commodities, she said, and that state guidelines restrict what can be put in the landfill. Carey added that the tours brought home the message by explaining that recycled materials need a consistent end market to justify collection and processing. For example, Ardagh closed its glass bottling facility in Massachusetts in 2018. The closure eliminated a key end market for recycled glass and caused collector Strategic Materials to stop taking local recovered glass. Local MRFs subsequently lost that revenue stream. When residents don’t trust recycling infrastructure, they put fewer items in their curbside bins, and ultimately paper, metals and glass wind up as collateral damage, Miller said. So it’s vital to make sure the public knows where their recyclables and that end markets exist to use these materials. Read the full article.

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