News from the Noteworthy from The Arc Otsego

Otsego Reuse Tackles Plastic Waste with Trex

The Otsego ReUse Center has long been a local leader in sustainability, reselling building materials, furniture, books, and other household goods to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities served by The Arc Otsego organization. Since opening in 2018, the center has been on a mission to reduce waste and give usable items a second life. Now, through a partnership with Trex Company, it has taken that mission one step further.

Already a hub for recycling hard-to-process materials like fluorescent light bulbs and polystyrene, the Otsego ReUse Center saw an opportunity to address another local recycling challenge: plastic film waste. Due to its stretchy nature, plastic film is notoriously difficult to recycle through traditional channels. As a result, materials such as grocery bags, newspaper sleeves and shipping pouches often are not accepted by curbside recycling programs and, ultimately, wind up in landfills.

“We saw a clear need to reduce plastic waste in our community, and NexTrex offered a smart, scalable solution,” said Faith Tiemann, chief marketing officer of The Arc Otsego. “It’s a meaningful way for residents to contribute to a greener Otsego County.”