Halifax, Nova Scotia – During the Carpet Recycling Summit in Halifax this month, Aspera Recycling, the leader in post-consumer and post-industrial carpet recycling in Canada, announced the opening of Aspera Atlantic. The Ontario-based company has partnered with Greentree Resources of Halifax NS to open a collection and sorting facility, the first of its kind in the Maritime Provinces.
It is estimated that Nova Scotians discard between 6800-7900 tons of waste carpet each year. Currently, there is no other facility in Atlantic Canada that accepts used carpet for recycling. By working closely with leading carpet manufactures and retailers, Aspera Atlantic will be able to reach its goals of diverting carpet from landfills and maximizing the utilization of recycled components.
“Carpet is made of plastic and putting it into landfills where it will sit for centuries is not a sustainable solution” says Richard White, president of Aspera Recycling. “The Resource Recovery Fund Board (RRFB) and Nova Scotia government recognize not only the environmental impact of this practice but the loss of non-renewable resources. We are delighted about our partnership with Greentree to launch the diversion and recycling business in the region to help solve this problem.”
Aspera Atlantic will collect, sort and prepare the carpet for processing. Paul Behner, president of Greentree Resources, said, “We are very pleased to partner with Aspera and provide a solution to the Atlantic Region.” In 2008, Behner was recognized by the Eco-Efficiency Centre for Environmental Excellence in Business for his work in civil construction. “I am passionate about recycling; I see a world where all materials can be recycled with a goal to create a positive impact on the environment.”