Pa. Awards Recycling Markets Infrastructure Development Grants

Pennsylvania has awarded $773,424 in Recycling Markets Infrastructure Development Grants for the purchase of equipment that will increase manufacturers’ use of Pennsylvania-generated recycled materials in production processes.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty made the announcement while touring BJM Industries Inc. in Kittanning, Armstrong County. Owner Boyd Galbraith said his15-year-old company will use its $186,653 grant to update its current manufacturing equipment and add a third production line for its “Millennium Lumber” plastic lumber product.

BJM Industries, which employs three full-time workers in addition to Galbraith, says its “Millennium Lumber” is maintenance free, never needs painting or staining and requires no special tools to work with. With the third production line in operation, BJM expects to increase its consumption of recycled plastics to 500,000 pounds per year from 380,000 pounds per year.

Everlast Plastic Lumber Inc. of Auburn in Schuylkill County also received a $500,000 Recycling Markets Infrastructure Development Grant. For the last 10 years, Everlast has manufactured residential and commercial plastic lumber from 100-percent recycled plastic. The company will use the grant to convert its existing plastics extruder into a continuous production line and to purchase a shredding unit. Everlast expects to increase consumption of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic and will begin using harder-to-recycle plastics grades three through seven, according to a press release from the DEP.

Pandya Inc. of Cambria Township in Cambria County received an $86,771 grant. Pandya uses an innovative process to manufacture composite wood products from recycled HDPE and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics, which it combines with sawdust from local sawmills. With the grant money, Pandya will purchase a compactor, a shredder, conveyors and a forklift. Pandya expects to double its current production capacity of 1,000 pounds per day using the new equipment, according to the DEP.

The Recycling Markets Infrastructure Development Grants finance the purchase of machinery or equipment that will increase consumption of recyclable materials recovered in the commonwealth. The grants are made only to existing businesses and nonprofit organizations that are manufacturing a product or reusing an existing product using recyclable material from Pennsylvania or that want to begin using recyclable material. Grants are available in amounts up to $500,000 for any one recycling infrastructure development project.