The Otsego ReUse Center in Oneota, New York, collects film recycling through the Grassroots Movement, an initiative by film recycler NexTrex. | Photo courtesy of NexTrex.
Recycling collection site Otsego ReUse Center is bringing plastic film recycling to New York, with help from the Grassroots Movement initiative by film collector NexTrex.
Since 2023, the Otsego ReUse Center in Oneota, New York, has worked with NexTrex to divert shopping bags, shipping wrap, food packaging and other film plastics that would otherwise end up in landfills. The center was able to divert nearly 100,000 pounds of film plastics from landfills in a year, according to a press release.
NexTrex is the film recycling branch of Trex, a deck and outdoor materials manufacturer. NexTrex collects film to be recycled into decking and other Trex products.
The company’s Grassroots Movement works with local municipalities, universities and nonprofits to add collection sites and make film recycling more accessible. According to a Grassroots Movement guide, the program exists to help their partners fund their other projects. NexTrex compensates its partners for the film plastics they collect and handles all transportation to manufacturing facilities for the material to be processed.
Otsego ReUse Center is run by The Arc Otsego, a chapter of a nonprofit organization that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“We saw a clear need to reduce plastic waste in our community, and NexTrex offered a smart, scalable solution,” said Faith Tiemann, chief marketing officer of The Arc Otsego, in the press release. “It’s a meaningful way for residents to contribute to a greener Otsego County.”
Since it opened in 2018, Otsego Reuse Center has collected used furniture, appliances and other home necessities to eliminate waste and provide affordable home necessities to disabled people. The center recycles other materials, such as fluorescent lightbulbs and now film plastics, to fund The Arc Otsego’s other community services.
“Community organizations are ideal partners for our Grassroots Movement,” said Stephanie Hicks, materials and recycling programs manager for Trex, in the press release. “Like Trex, they are committed to bettering their communities and the world at large.”
As a major plastic film recycling company, Trex runs a film drop-off guide and database to increase its feedstock and help consumers learn about film recycling. Last year, Trex sourced 328 million pounds of PE film through all its channels.