Kiawah Island Goes Green

Kiawah Island has always been renowned as a naturally beautiful location. Filled with vegetation, flora and fauna, you could call it the archetypal "green" destination.

Since resort and real estate construction began on the island in the 1970's, all development has been carefully designed to blend into the island's natural habitat. In fact, before any commercial earth was turned, a complete inventory of the island's wildlife and plant life was undertaken.

This commitment to nature preservation led to many innovative developments, including the requirement that all buildings remain behind the secondary dune line to protect this critical habitat. There are also no streetlights on Kiawah, as the artificial light could attract Loggerhead Sea Turtles away from the beach on which they nest for six months of the year.

Long before "ecotourism" became a marketing term, the resort was giving guests the opportunity to donate $2 per night during their stay to the Kiawah Island Conservancy, which is dedicated to the preservation of the island.

Each of the five championship golf courses as well as the grounds of The Sanctuary have been certified by Audubon International as Cooperative Sanctuaries. This award-winning education and certification program recognizes golf courses and other facilities for their sensitivity to protecting the environment. To achieve the Audubon Sanctuary Certification, golf courses and The Sanctuary demonstrated a high degree of environmental quality in a variety of categories, including Environmental Planning, Wildlife Habitat Management, Resource Conservation, Waste Management and Outreach and Education.

And, as the world does become more eco-conscious, the resort continues to respond with new initiatives, including additional nature programming, water conservation and recycling. Even the oyster shells from the summer oyster roasts are redistributed into the salt marsh around the island.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort 2011 Sustainability Initiatives

Solid Waste Reduction

Participation from all departments in KIGR's waste minimization programs is mandatory to the best of their abilities and spatial limitations. KIGR constantly monitors and manages recycling and trash pick-ups for the most efficient use of resources to best serve our guests and the Lowcountry. The types of items collected for rescue, recycling and composting, in addition to points of collection, will continue to expand to reduce the volume of land-filled material.

Public Area Recycling

In addition to providing residential curbside recycling pick up,  Kiawah Island Resort has placed the Fibrex  Envirodesign Recycled Plastic Lumber recycling centers at high traffic areas throughout the resort.  The recycling receptacles are located at the main pool, park and nature center.  The receptacles are set up to collect trash and bottles & cans and have received rave reviews from residents and guests alike.

Community Relations

Just as the beloved Loggerhead Sea Turtles and Painted Buntings play integral roles within the coastal ecosystem,  Kiawah lsland Golf Resort plays an integral part in the Charleston Community. By placing a concerted effort on repurposing usable items, conserving water and energy, and focusing on their local economy KIGR is fulfilling a beneficial niche.

Sustainable Food Initiative

"Sustainable" is food that is harvested in a manner that does not risk the health or future of the harvested population. While not compromising quality or guest satisfaction, efforts will be made to find local sources, organic products, and humane treatment of animals. Third party certifications will be sought out to verify these efforts where applicable.

Sustainable Product Availability

Increase the availability of more environmentally, socially and economically responsible products and services for guests, as well as employee use. Sustainability will be judged by the whole lifecycle of the product from extraction of raw materials, transportation, use and finally to proper disposal.

Harmful Materials Reduction

Achieve 100% recycling of all batteries, fluorescent bulbs, and e-waste. Emphasis will be placed on properly disposing paint and vehicle oil filters. Increase the availability of less harmful cleaning products, especially those chemicals that may be washed into our local wetland systems.

As the exclusive mid-Atlantic distributor for Play Mart Products, The Fibrex Group would like to share this press release with you honoring Play Mart, Inc. This innovative and environmentally friendly business was honored for its commitment to the environment.

Play Mart, Inc was one of four businesses recently presented with the Evergreen Award by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). The Evergreen Award Program was developed to annually recognize the efforts of partners who do business in an environmentally friendly way.

A total of 25 businesses were considered for the 2010 Evergreen Award. This Award was presented to a business in one of four categories. “These companies have done an outstanding job of making environmentally friendly options available to our federal customers and are committed to helping us reduce waste and save taxpayer dollars,” said Regional Administrator David H. Ehrenwerth. “We are honored to partner with companies that help us to green the government’s supply chain while creating a more sustainable environment and building a greener future.”

Play Mart, Inc., a manufacturer of recycled plastic commercial playground equipment, received the 2010 Evergreen Award in the Sports and Recreation category. A Woman-Owned / Family-Owned Small Business providing jobs in rural Kentucky, Play Mart manufactures 100% recycled plastic playground equipment and site amenities, diverting millions of jugs and bottles from landfills annually. Almost all of the company’s manufacturing waste, and more than 75% of the company’s operation waste, is recycled. The Take Back program ensures that the company’s products don’t go to landfills but are re-used and recycled. In 2010, Play Mart also eliminated its shop lighting and replaced it with an energy-efficient system of zoned and motion-detected fluorescent lighting. This change has provided an energy savings of nearly 7000 KWh per month which is equivalent to providing energy for 20 three bedroom houses annually.

The Evergreen Award itself “closes the recycling loop” in that it is made from recycled glass. The Award sets a high standard for other business partners to follow and is a wonderful example of how the federal government and businesses can work together. Play Mart is proud to be chosen by GSA as a partner that provide services and products that are environmentally sensitive and demonstrate its leadership in sustainability.

As the leading manufacturer of Recycled Plastic Play Systems, Play Mart celebrates 30 years of designing and manufacturing creative, age group specific play products (from 6 months to 12 years), fitness equipment, swings, site amenities, and ADA accessible components that meet and exceed current safety standards. All structural equipment is made from 100% recycled post-consumer HDPE. Recycled Structural Plastic and is low-maintenance with an outstanding warranty. Play Mart is a Woman-Owned / Family-Owned Small Business manufacturing a world-class product. Play Mart's products are sold nationally through a network of distributors as well as internationally. The Fibrex Group is the exclusive mid-Atlantic distributor for Play Mart, Inc. Contact us for more details on Play Mart products.

At many military installations around the United States there has been an initiative to improve the quality of life as well as moral. Therefore, not only have new homes been built, but true communities have been established on these installations. One such example exists at Fort Polk, Louisiana. A company called Picerne was awarded a privatization contract for Fort Polk . They set out to create a community that would greatly enhance the quality of life for soldiers and their families. This emphasis started with a focus on building and refurbishing quality homes but went beyond a home, a street, or just one neighborhood. The company sought to bring about a sense of community at Fort Polk with play.

Upon reviewing the military installation, site managers discovered more than 150 play structures scattered throughout the neighborhoods there.  The items ranged from tetherball posts to swing sets. Most of the items were outdated and in disrepair, which presented a safety concern. The company knew it could make an immediate impact on the quality of life for families by creating recreation  destinations that offered something for everyone in the family, swings, age-appropriate play structures, basketball and tennis courts, picnic areas, and benches.

With a green outlook in mind for the improvements, they began to search for an environmentally conscious playground company to help carry out their plan. The company decided to enlist Play Mart, a playground manufacturer that extrudes its own proprietary Recycled Structural Plastic (RSP). This sustainable product is made primarily from recycled milk jugs. The company's average play set contains nearly 25,000 milk jugs, and it diverts over I million pounds of plastic from landfills annually.

Now, Play Mart has designed and installed environmentally friendly playgrounds at over a dozen neighborhoods in Fort Polk. The recreation area is a gathering spot for many residents, not just children. They bring a sense of community to the neighborhoods as families come together to watch their children play. Several parents meet for regular play dates at the parks, and family child care providers take the children on outings to the recreation areas.

Early projects at Fort Polk included the placement of 240 recycled plastic lumber benches at newly refurbished bus stops. These benches contain more than 300 post-consumer milk jugs. In addition to complete playground structures, high-quality, low maintenance recycled plastic lumber products have been used to create picnic tables and waste receptacles. All items consist of up to 100 percent recycled plastic lumber.

Ruben Leenders is the national account manager for Play Mart. The Fibrex Group is the exclusive Mid-Atlantic distributor for Play Mart Inc. We offer full service design & installation of sustainable play equipment, surfacing and borders.  We also manufacture and distribute recycled plastic lumber benches, picnic tables, recycling containers and trash receptacles.

Picerne has revitalized other Military Housing installations using Play Mart playgrounds as well, such as Fort Riley, Fort Meade, Fort Rucker, Fort Bragg and Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

Please click “From milk jugs to swing sets” to read the full article.

Since 1990, The Fibrex Group has designed, manufactured and installed an innovative product line of recycling containers, waste receptacles, site furnishings & playground equipment. Providing attractive green design recycling receptacles and site furnishings in public spaces promotes good environmental stewardship while reducing waste and increasing recycling awareness. We offer very competitive factory direct pricing on our extensive selection of sustainable design recycling containers, waste receptacles, benches, picnic tables, playgrounds & solar bollards. All our products are made with the maximum amount of recycled content, are built to last and covered by the best warranties in the industry.

Our May Spring Special

Save an additional 25% through the month of May

The RecyclePro Recycling receptacles are designed for indoor/outdoor use and have an all weather finish. The outer bodies are protected from weather conditions by special high temperature baked on powder coat finishes which are applied to galvanized steel and/or solid aluminum bodies. All receptacles also have a rust and corrosion resistant aluminum base and are supplied with heavy gauge, seamless, hand-spun aluminum covers.

RecyclePro Recycling Receptacles have covers and bodies that are silk screened with clear messages and logos that look professional and last indefinitely. We allow you to choose the message/logo you want for each opening of our recycling receptacles. Custom messages and corporate/government logos are easily prepared to customize your RecyclePro Recycling Receptacles for a minimal set-up fee.

Available in single, multiple and connected unit options, in multiple sizes, these smartly designed recycling receptacles are already a favorite of commercial facility managers and recycling coordinators across the country. Make RecyclePro Recycling Receptacles your preferred collection choice!

Features and Benefits

Made with between 30% and 70% recycled content All metal fire safe construction Unique design maximizes efficient use of space Indoor/Outdoor all weather construction Engineered for durability Optional designer decorative bands available

Styles and finishes for every facility 20 designer finishes and 2 metal finishes Manufactured in the USA Custom finish combinations available Custom silk screened messages and logos Optional outdoor canopy tops available

RecyclePro w/o Post		RecyclePro with Post		RecyclePro Open Top

Did you know that in addition to our popular recycling containers, the Fibrex Group has an extensive collection of recycled plastic lumber site furnishings at competitive prices? Recently, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) decided to replace their old, weathered wood benches and trash cans.

Ms. Debbie Galvez, business manager at VIMS, discovered The Fibrex Group on the eVA purchasing portal/directory and decided to give us a call. She realized that due to their scenic, waterfront location that is subject to harsh elements, VIMS required a product that wouldn’t rot, crack, split, shrink, chip or require maintenance like similar wooden or metal products. VIMS decided on our stylish 6’ Envirodesign Victorian Bench which has the look of cast iron with the durability of recycled plastic. They also purchased various picnic tables including the Hexagon and ADA models to accommodate all of their employees and students, and the Envirodesign dome top waste receptacles. All of which never need painting or treating – and are immune to termites and insects, which is so important in a waterfront landscape!

VIMS’ order was promptly delivered by our staff (since we are in the same neck of the woods). All of their site furnishings fit in beautifully with the fresh Spring blooms and their breathtaking location on the river.

By purchasing products manufactured from recycled plastic content, VIMS saved 45,137 milk jugs from being disposed of in a landfill, thus solidifying their commitment to saving the environment and surrounding wetlands. They had indeed “closed the loop”.

The School of Marine Science (SMS) at VIMS is the graduate school in marine science for the College of William & Mary. Chartered in 1940, VIMS is currently among the largest marine research and education centers in the United States focusing on coastal and estuarine science. The VIMS 40-acre main campus is located in Gloucester Point, Virginia, near the mouth of the York River, a major tributary and passageway to Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The VIMS Gloucester Point campus lies about 13 miles east of the College of William and Mary along the Colonial Parkway. The close proximity to the river and ocean takes a heavy toll on outdoor benches, tables and trash receptacles.

In today’s environment, buying “GREEN” is more important than ever. The Fibrex Group fabricates 100% recycled plastic lumber made from post-consumer recycled plastic milk jugs. Our products are safe for both children and adults, as they do not splinter, absorb bacteria, or contain chemicals that may leach into the skin or soil like pressured treated wood.

Fibrex benches, picnic tables & site furnishings can be found in school play areas, commons areas, parks, sport & recreation facilities both indoors and outdoors. The uses of these products are limited by imagination only. They are perfect for use trail-side, dock-side, at nature centers, stadiums, and shopping/downtown areas– the potentials are endless!

Funding for recycling containers was recently awarded for the “Play Green” project.

The grant funding allows the city to furnish additional permanent recycling containers for the parks, as well as purchase more portable recycling containers for the city’s special events as well as educational and promotional materials.

“The containers are primarily for water bottles, cans and that sort of thing,” said Cristal Rollins, community programs coordinator for Coppell. “Those are the things found most often out on the parks and trails. Park goers can now recycle more while they are using the parks, fields, facilities and trails with the new recycling containers in place.

The containers were provided by a Solid Waste Implementation Project grant from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and Texas Commission on Environmental Equality (TCEQ).

Rollins wrote the grant for just under $15,000 and that money provided 17 new recycling containers in the parks and on the trails located in Coppell.

The recycling containers have been placed at Andy Brown East and West parks, the Kid Country playground and the trail system. Each recycling container is marked with “Coppell Recycles Bottles and Cans” signage and has a special opening at the top to minimize contamination. The recycling receptacles are placed next to trash cans in all locations, Rollins said.

“The recycling containers are in the parks and we are using some of the portable containers we purchased at some of the recent city events,” she said. “We also purchased some promotional items to give out to encourage people to recycle.”

Recycling in the parks was first initiated in 2006. The first recycling containers were placed at the soccer and baseball fields at Wagon Wheel and MacArthur parks through “Run, Refresh, Recycle.”

The “Run, Refresh, Recycle” project was also funded through a Solid Waste Implementation Project grant.

The “Play Green” project funds have given the city the opportunity to enhance the park recycling program, increase the diversion rate and create less waste that ends up in a landfill, and gives park users more chances to play green, Rollins said.

Original article written by Jim Kilpatrick – Coppell Gazette

To any school, college, business, or event, the economic benefits of recycling are simple and substantial. Colleges, schools, businesses and those hosting large events pay hefty fees for the collection, transportation and disposal of garbage and trash. Often, it contains more recyclable materials than actual garbage or trash. Beverage containers, food service containers and documents make up the majority of “the trash” that is transported to already full landfills.
 
Trash or waste audits can be performed that will provide a reasonable estimate of just how much trash volume and expense can be reduced when you strategically place recycling containers throughout a campus, school, business, or event. At schools and colleges, cafeterias and libraries are ideal locations for recycling containers.
 
School administrators in particular, may not fully understand the extent of their trash expense. In Seattle, Virginia Mason Hospital recently reduced their garbage expense by $170,000 a year after increasing the use of recycling containers. In addition, the amount of garbage they contributed to landfills was reduced by 80%. Certainly, colleges or large institutions could use that kind of savings.

The Fibrex Group has recycling containers designed for durability and easy cleaning which are also attractive. Recycling bins can have the college or school mascot on them, or they can be color-coordinated with the event or business logo. Our recycling containers are clearly labeled and are made from numerous materials, in many sizes and shapes, to fit nearly every need or decor.

By installing and promoting the use of recycling containers, colleges, schools, businesses and municipalities can significantly reduce their trash expenses and their carbon footprint. School board officials, community leaders and investors will see this as positive indicators of your success and innovative thinking. Additionally, the community will see your business or event as a responsible neighbor, rather than a disruption or intrusion. The successful use of recycling containers will improve your reputation and social performance and keep more cash in the bank.

This blog post centers upon the little known fact that partially filled plastic containers can ruin the recycling process.  We discussed this subject with our kids the other day.  Our youngest suggested we “put it in our new blog”.  How can we argue with that?
   
We have a curbside recycle bin and recently discovered a three-quarters-full plastic soda bottle.  You might be surprised how this seemingly benign circumstance can have a dramatic effect on the recycling process.

Consider these facts:

• Machines that handle the sorting of the materials can become damaged, which means that precious time, energy and money will be needed to repair the machines.

• Liquids and solids left in recyclable materials makes the job far more difficult and inefficient for workers sorting the material by hand.

• Certain biodegradable materials actually inhibit the materials in the bin from turning into the highest quality materials possible

• In extreme cases, foreign matter in the recycling containers can result in the entire bin content being sent directly to the landfill.

Now back to those kids.  I know that they are much more concerned about “Mother Earth” than they are about wasting Mom and Dad’s hard-earned money.  While I don’t expect to see any more half-full soda bottles in our recycle bin,  I am a realist and know their concern for Mother Earth will not  resolve their natural calling to open 12-ounce drinks to satisfy their two-ounce thirst. I suppose they will devise some creative (and comical) covert product disposal methods all in the name of protecting the environment.  

 

The next time you visit (or drive by) any of  the 250 Shopko stores nation-wide, take note of the Fibrex Group “Custom Recycle Box” prominently displayed at the store entrance.   As we discussed in a previous blog post, Shopko understands the environmental awakening within their client-base and took decisive action.  

Shopko discovered a recurring widespread dilemma within their customer base.  Customers love the utility and convenience of plastic bags at check out, but they are also increasingly unhappy with the amount of plastic they send out with the trash.  Fibrex solved the Shopko customer dilemma via the Shopko “Custom Recycling Box”.  

Consider what this has done for Shopko and what it could do for your business.   For an ever-increasing number of Shopko customers, the first thing they do is deposit the plastic bags of their previous purchase in the custom recycle box.  This conscious act of returning bags to a recycling receptacle is a disciplined, productive act that delivers personal reward associated with the simple act of walking into Shopko. The consumer may or may not actively associate Shopko with the positive emotion, but the subconscious association is indisputable.  

The Fibrex Group's Recycle Box is a low cost collection solution suitable for all types of recyclables: bottles & cans, plastics, paper, or anything else the proprietor wishes to collect.  It is available in a 32 & 44-gallon capacity and is easily customized to perfectly blend into your business model.  We are proud to inform that we manufacture all Recycle Boxes with a minimum of 30% recycled content.

Feel free to contact us today at 1.866.756.4560 and we will be happy to create a custom design just for you, using your logos and colors. Be sure to check out our other fine recyclable products we have to offer as well.

The Fibrex Group invites you to view the latest in green design recycling receptacles, site furnishings, and playground technologies at the National Facilities Management & Technology (NFMT) Conference and Expo. NFMT is the fastest growing conference and trade show of its kind in the nation.

The Fibrex Group will proudly display our industry leading products such as the Mobius and Eco Mod Designer Recycling receptacles (example at right), the environmentally friendly Play Mart Green Design Playgrounds, our latest “Solar Bollard” lighting systems, and more!

Please visit us at the NFMT event. We look forward to meeting you.  Of course contact us anytime for more information.