Elkhart Plastics Wins 2012 Association of Rotational Molders Recycled Product of the Year Award

South Bend, IN – Elkhart Plastics is proud to announce that it recently received a 2012 Product Competition Award for Recycled Product of the Year at the annual meeting of the Association of Rotational Molders for its innovative Green Drop Recycling Station product. The Green Drop Recycling Station is a four-compartment, 88-gallon unit made of 100% recycled plastic that allows guests to easily self-sort recyclable and compostable items, keeping them out of the landfill waste stream.

“The Green Drop Recycling Station is a perfect example of our interest in creating custom engineered solutions for our customers’ unique challenges. By utilizing eco-friendly materials to create a product that encourages additional eco-friendly behavior by users, we feel that we are really making an impact on the environment as well as our clients’ bottom line,” said Jack Welter, CEO of Elkhart Plastics, Inc.

EPI’s Portland Plastics has taken the concept to a new level by manufacturing the Green Drop with a proprietary material named Recycolene™. Elkhart Plastics developed special equipment and a unique in-house process to blend up to 50% post-consumer recycled plastic with virgin resin to create Recycolene™, which is available in a variety of colors. Recycolene™ has superior properties when compared to currently available recycled rotational grade polyethylene and can be used to mold countless products.

The Green Drop Recycling Station concept started with the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon, which was looking to become a more environmentally responsible venue as well as to increase its landfill diversion rate. The result was a unique, easy-to-use recycling station that guests can easily self-sort recyclable and compostable items. The project has been a great success and has evolved to include many venues and stadiums throughout the country, including The Staples Center in Los Angeles and BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Rose Garden Arena alone has increased its landfill diversion rate to 90% in 2011.

About Elkhart Plastics

Elkhart Plastics is a 25-year-old company that creates rotationally molded products in an almost endless variety of shapes, lengths, and thicknesses out of its six facilities. The company provides custom designs for clients in industries including recreational vehicles, marine, agriculture, commercial construction equipment, heavy truck equipment, material handling, and more. EPI also manufactures Tuff Stack™ and Tuff Cube™ Intermediate Bulk Containers, Connect-A-Dock, and KONG Coolers.