Island Green Living makes first shipment to Padnos

The nonprofit Island Green Living Association says it has shipped its first load of ocean-bound plastic to its recycling partner, Padnos, which is based in Holland, Michigan. Island Green Living, which is based in the U.S. Virgin Islands, says it has collected more than 27,000 pounds of material on St. John, including 13,906 pounds of plastics and approximately 433,300 aluminum cans. These recyclables are now heading for the Michigan-based recycler, which will process the materials and sell them to end users.

To date, Island Green Living says its aluminum recycling program has saved 1.9 million aluminum cans from the landfill, a volume that has increased significantly with help from Padnos.

“We are grateful to our partner Padnos, one of the top recyclers in the U.S., for their donation of equipment and other assistance which helped get our commercial level recycling program off the ground,” says Harith Wickrema, president of Island Green Living. “It is vital that we continue to turn ‘waste’ into a resource, an endeavor that would not be possible without our dedicated staff, volunteers and donors.”

Before being baled and loaded for shipment, the recyclables are collected via key pickup locations around the island, sorted and baled at Island Green Living’s facilities. Through the cooperation of VI Waste Management, Island Green Living picks up recyclables at three popular trash collection sites on St. John where specially marked receptacles have been placed. The public can deposit rinsed Nos. 1 (polyethylene terephthalate), 2 (high-density polyethylene) and 5 (polypropylene) plastics, with caps removed, and aluminum cans.

Additionally, Island Green Living’s ReSource Depot also accepts material.

Island Green Living has an 18-year history of sustainable programming and conservation on St. John. Its ReSource Depot thrift shop has kept 700,000 pounds of building and other materials out of landfills. The nonprofit also says it has worked on banning plastic bags, straws and toxic sunscreen and on other environmental legislation as well as issues such as food security.