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New uses for waste collected at CONEXPO

More than 400tonnes of waste was processed from the event with nearly 307tonnes able to be recycled, for a recovery rate of more than 76%.
February 29, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Waste material collected at the recent CONEXPO-CON/AGG construction equipment and IFPE 2011 shows held in Las Vegas, USA, is already aiding communities.

The shows continued a recycling programme initiated at the 2008 event, and for 2011 took the efforts a step further with the Repurpose AMERICA programme presented by DoppstadtUS, which complements and completes the recycling process by capturing non-recyclable material that would have ended up in landfills.

The organisation, which worked closely with show producer 1100 Association of Equipment Manufacturers (676 AEM); the Las Vegas Convention Center and show general contractor GES during the waste collection process, repurposes the discarded material for donation to local schools, teachers, community associations and other non-profit groups.

More than 400tonnes of waste was processed from the event with nearly 307tonnes able to be recycled, for a recovery rate of more than 76%. Materials included paper/cardboard, carpet/padding and building materials such as concrete, ferrous metal, film, glass, wire/cable, plastics and wood. Repurpose AMERICA was also able to collect for repurposing 14,000m² of non-recyclable materials from signage such as magnetics, vinyl and foamcore.

Materials are already beginning to work themselves into programmes. As one example banner material was used to replace a sunshade at a pre-school with more than 65 children.

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