Trex Company’s NexTrex Program Aims to Reduce Household Plastic Waste

Originally posted on Men's Journal | By Emily Fazio | Last updated Jul 11, 2024 10:45 AM ET

With an eye to sustainability and a clear North Star vision, Trex Company is helping consumers think differently about plastic recycling. Its innovative program, NexTrex, collects items like grocery bags, newspaper sleeves, bubble wrap, shrink wrap, and shipping pouches. These plastics aren't normally accepted in curbside recycling programs, but are the magic ingredient to Trex's premium composite decking. This month, Trex Company is raising awareness for this unique recycling program, and encouraging everyone to participate in Plastic Free July by dropping off hard-to-recycle household plastics at one of 32,000 drop-off points around the country.

The Benefits of Recycling with Trex

Since its inception, Trex has been at the forefront of sustainability, transforming waste into valuable products including wood-alternative decking. “At Trex, sustainability is not just a buzzword – it’s a founding principle of our company and part of our DNA," shares Bryan Fairbanks, President and CEO of Trex Company. Its composite decking is renowned for being made from 95% recycled and reclaimed materials, including polyethylene plastic film and industrial wood scrap. NexTrex is just one program that looks to make a difference and support the recycling loop:

Environmental Impact: Trex diverts more than 320 million pounds of plastic film from landfills annually, helping to reduce plastic pollution.
Sustainability: Over the past three decades, Trex has used over 5 billion pounds of recycled plastic material, giving new life to waste that would otherwise contribute to environmental degradation.
Quality Products: The recycled materials are transformed into high-quality, durable decking products that enhance outdoor living spaces.

How to Participate in the NexTrex Program

Participating in the NexTrex program is simple and convenient. Trex has partnered with over 32,000 centralized drop-off locations including grocery and retail stores, as well as numerous churches, schools, and community organizations across the country. Here’s how you can get involved with this grassroots movement:

Collect Your Plastics: Start by separating your household plastics, such as grocery bags, newspaper sleeves, shrink wrap, and shipping pouches.
Locate a Drop-Off Point: Use Trex’s online resources to find a convenient drop-off location near you.
Drop Off Your Plastics: Bring your collected plastics to the designated drop-off point. These contributions will be used to create sustainable decking solutions.

From there, manufacturing facilities move millions of pounds of donated produce bags, shopping bags, and other film wrap to process new products. By participating in the NexTrex program, you can ensure that your recycled plastics are being put to good use, helping to reduce plastic pollution and support the creation of eco-friendly outdoor living products.

Trex's Leadership in the Sustainability Movement

Trex's commitment to sustainability goes beyond recycling. As one of the largest recyclers of plastic film in North America, Trex is dedicated to finding innovative ways to reduce waste and promote environmental stewardship. Their efforts have made a significant impact on the fight against plastic waste, turning trash into treasure and setting an example for other companies to follow.

This article first appeared on Men's Journal and was syndicated with permission.

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