Often, success is all about connecting the dots. I’m Doug Compton a packaging development leader at Owens Corning, the world's largest manufacturer of fiberglass composites. Owens Corning develops and produces insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composites and related materials and products.  

In 2022, I toured the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) landfill in Grove City as part of an event organized by the Institute of Packaging Professionals. I was put in contact with Sheila Davis, Business Programs Administrator at SWACO. Sheila’s role is to help businesses in Central Ohio keep hard-to-recycle materials out of the landfill. I reached out to Sheila for help with recycling flexible poly films, a material that is not typically accepted by mainstream municipal recyclers.  Sheila connected me with Michael Hatfield, president of SBC Solutions Group, a recycler located in Centerburg, OH, further connecting the dots. I then reached out to Randy Hilleary and Will Landowne, environmental, health & safety leaders at the Owens Corning plant in Newark, OH. I asked them if the Newark plant had any hard-to-recycle materials on hand because I had just learned of a potential outlet. Randy responded that his timing was impeccable, as they were looking for a poly recycler and days away from sending discontinued packaging materials to the landfill.  

Within a week, folks at the Newark plant were in touch with SBC Solutions Group and 29.77 tons of written-off, damaged, and discontinued flexible poly packaging and kraft paper were diverted from the landfill. Instead, these materials were collected and sent out to be recycled into wood-alternative composite decking and newly converted paper products.  

By connecting the dots through networking, we can work together to solve the toughest recycling challenges. Share your waste reduction, reuse, and recycling success with us! Email photos and information to [email protected].