Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

Aflac commits to recycling foam

Aflac introduced a new foam waste recycling machine called The Densifier at the Paul S. Amos campus Monday.

The one-ton device, manufactured by Dart Container Corporation, is capable of compacting 8,000 foam cups into a cylinder that stands 15 inches tall and weighs 40 pounds.

The foam cylinders are sent to Michigan, where recycling processes transform the material into small plastic pellets that are sold to a broker.

DART Regional Manager Michael Martinez said these pellets can be manufactured into anything that is a durable plastic product from trash cans to children’s toys.

“Many companies aren’t willing to do the time, or spend the money, or the difficulty that it takes to recycle, and I think it shows a real commitment on Aflac’s part to have a program like this,” Martinez said.