Since our inception in 2000, Southern Screens has been one of the top 5 distributors of the Executive Powered Screen in Phantom's North America network. As such, we generate large amounts of packaging materials such as cardboard, foam, and plastic bags.
The installation process of all 3 products generates significant amounts of aluminum cuttings, particularly high-grade extruded aluminum.
The administration of the company also produces recyclables such as paper, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles (mostly from water and sports drinks used by the installation crews.)
The following is our performance in recyclables for 2006 and to date in '07:
Recycled and Reused - 99.9% - (A+)
From our very first job back in Georgia in 1997, we have captured virtually all the aluminum cuttings and recycled everything that wasn't cut up for samples. In 2006, we recycled over 1100 pounds of high grade aluminum. So far in 2007, the total is almost 960 lbs.
Recycled and Reused - 22% - (D-)
Cardboard packaging has been a challenge and a disappointment in our recycling efforts from the beginning. While we think we've got a lot of cardboard to contribute, commercial recyclers consider our material amounts insufficient to warrant their attention. But we have found a few smaller recyclers that will take some of our cardboard some of the time. We will continue to try and increase the amount each year that gets reused. In 2006, we recycled 1800 lbs out of 5600. To date in 2007, 1550 out of 5000 lbs.
Recycled and Reused - 15% - (F)
While we use the foam blocks for spacers, it only amounts to a handfull every year. Storage space is also lacking for this lightweight but voluminous material. If you know of any uses for 7" x 2" green foam blocks, please contact our office. So far - no takers.
Recycled and Reused - 68% - (B)
Plastic bottles and aluminum cans, purchased mostly for the hydration of our installers in the field, are almost 100% recycled from the office, but only about 50% from the field. Our overall goal is to eliminate these delivery systems completely in the future and use only refillable, large volume containers. We purchased approx. 1400 containers water, sports drink and sodas in 2006, and recycled almost 900. The totals for 2007 are 800 out of 1260 units (It's been a hot summer!)
Office paper recycling declined this year for the first time as not one, but two shredders finally gave up the ghost. We're back on the shredding track though, and should finish the year at over 80% recycled paper. (We don't weigh the shreddings. Suffice it to say that we could provide the confetti for a Macy's Easter Parade!). In 2006, we recycled a mountain of paper (at least a good sized hill, anyway). Ditto for 2007 to date.
