Plastic-based products manufacturers gathered at Pennsylvania College of Technology on March 17 to learn more about plastics recycling and manufacturing in Pennsylvania.
The Recycling Seminar was presented by Plastics SourceNet and Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center Inc. to members of the Central Pennsylvania Plastics Industry Partnership, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry through the Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corp.
The Plastics Industry Partnership member companies are eligible to participate in a waste-assessment program to help identify potential waste-reduction and recycling opportunities in their respective manufacturing operations. The program was introduced during the seminar by Recycling Markets Center staff.
The center's staff also provided an overview of residential and industrial recycling in Pennsylvania over the past 30 years. They highlighted the quantities and types of plastic resins that are recycled and can be used in various manufacturing processes and addressed the impact of Pennsylvania's recycling law.
During a panel discussion, industry representatives talked about their experiences in plastics recycling and manufacturing operations, offering their perspectives on issues facing the industry, including supply chain, markets and perceptions of the quality of recycled materials.
Panelists were Pennsylvania plastics recycling pioneers Jeff Furmanchian, co-owner and president of Concord Plastics of PA; Alan Lafiura, president of Ultra-Poly Corp.; Bernard Kulkaski, owner of Meridian Precision Inc.; and Steve Babinchak, former president and CEO of St. Jude Polymer.
The Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center Inc. is a leader in developing and expanding recycling markets. Headquartered at Penn State Harrisburg with satellite offices near Pittsburgh, the center can be contacted at 717-948-6660 or by email . The center is supported in part by grant funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Established and financed by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, Plastics SourceNet is a full-service resource supporting Pennsylvania's manufacturing competitiveness in the plastics industry.
The resources of Plastics SourceNet consist of a network of consultants, universities, colleges and other independent resources coordinated through the efforts of the Plastics Manufacturing Center at Pennsylvania College of Technology.
To learn more about Plastics SourceNet, call 1-877-PEN-PLAS (1-877-736-7527), email or visit online .
For more about Penn College, visit on the Web , email or call toll-free 800-367-9222.