A trailblazing Canadian company is striving to build a new standard for sustainability since they've begun turning the bulk of their municipal plastic waste into lumber.
About 80 percent of the plastic recyclables collected across Halifax, Nova Scotia is now being processed by Goodwood Plastic Products Ltd so that they can be turned into building blocks.
The plastic lumber can be nailed, drilled, glued, or handled the same way as wooden lumber—but without any of the same deterioration.
The other 20 percent of municipal plastics are being sent to other recycling markets in the country. Still, Halifax Solid Waste Division Manager Andrew Philopoulos said that provincial legislators are particularly grateful for Goodwood's initiative.
Goodwood recently partnered with a Sobeys grocery store to create one of Canada's first parking lots that are built entirely using post-consumer plastics that were reclaimed from many different local landfills.
Mike Chassie
While the bulk of Goodwood's recycled plastic comes from single-use bags, they also process food jars and other common consumer packaging.
According to CBC, the lumber has been used so far to make everything, from picnic tables to agricultural posting and guardrail structures. Goodwood vice president Mike Chassie hopes that their business model will inspire other regions to launch similar ventures.
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