Because most of the world's grass seed is grown in Oregon's
Willamette Valley, it only makes sense for
Weyerhaeuser's
(NYSE: WY) recycling business to initiate a seed bag
recycling program for the grass seed industry.
"Providing recycling
services in what's widely known as the 'Grass Seed Capital
of the World' promotes the healthy growth of two
well-established enterprises," said Lorena Young, the
company's recycling sourcing representative. "Oregon is
widely recognized as the leading producer of grass seed, and
Weyerhaeuser is widely recognized as a leading recycler. It
was a perfect fit."
Young said the industry
uses hundreds of thousands of polypropylene seed bags and
bulk bags. She said Weyerhaeuser will work closely with
growers, processors, testing labs and brokers to recycle the
bags.
Weyerhaeuser operates
recycling plants at both ends of the Willamette Valley, one
in Eugene and the other in the Portland area. From these
strategically located facilities, the company will recycle
the grass seed bags.
"We're providing this
service to meet a need in the industry where this material
was previously being landfilled," Young said. "We want to
provide an environmental benefit by keeping the grass seed
bags out of public landfills."
According to Young, this is
not the first time the grass seed industry has worked with
Weyerhaeuser.
"For years, Weyerhaeuser
provided grass seed growers with corrugated boxes and liners
from our box plants, totes from our
SpaceKraft plant in
Salem and recycling services from our recycling plants," she
said.
In addition to paper
products, Weyerhaeuser recycles agricultural fumigation
film, plastic film, tote liners, shrink wrap and colored
plastic.
For more information about
Weyerhaeuser's recycling program, people can contact Young
at
Weyerhaeuser Recycling, 3425 East 17th Ave., Eugene, OR
97403 or call 541-744-4119.
Weyerhaeuser Company,
one of the world's largest integrated forest products
companies, was incorporated in 1900. In 2004, sales were
$22.7 billion. It has offices or operations in 19 countries,
with customers worldwide. Weyerhaeuser is principally
engaged in the growing and harvesting of timber; the
manufacture, distribution and sale of forest products; and
real estate construction, development and related
activities.