A Journey In Sustainability: My Path At Rehrig Pacific

As the Senior Manager of National Recycling at Rehrig Pacific, my journey spans over two decades of service. Armed with an engineering degree from the University of Arizona, I joined Rehrig Pacific as a plant engineering intern. During these early days, I gained hands-on experience that involved building, designing, and interacting with various products, materials, and solutions. It provided the foundation for my understanding of the plastics manufacturing industry and insights into the many industries we partner with. Transitioning into leadership roles, I spent five years in our California plants before becoming the plant manager for our De Soto, Kansas, site. Upon my return to LA, I spearheaded Rehrig Pacific's national recycling program.

The national recycling program, a three-step initiative focusing on extensive education, training, and processing materials for reuse, has been a hallmark of my tenure. Collaborating with over 30 recycling partners, we process materials for reuse in new products, such as roll-out carts, pallets, and crates. This program extends beyond Rehrig Pacific's products, including recycling competitor’s items. As most would expect, managing diverse material streams with over 30 recycling partners can present its challenges. My team helps to streamline the recycling process by emphasizing practical training, education, and thorough testing. Integrating technology, such as metal separation, dust collectors, and stringent testing protocols, allows us to address potential contamination issues while maintaining the quality of our finished products.

“As I look ahead, the industry's move towards designing products with recyclability in mind is a source of optimism”

The extensive training we provide to our recycling partners allows us to meet specification ranges consistently and enables Rehrig Pacific to use a higher percentage of recycled content without compromising durability, strength, or the look of the finished product. Acknowledging challenges in mechanical recycling, particularly contamination, my team and I established standards, guides, and segregation practices to ensure best practices. Complementing the recycling program is the buyback initiative, where Rehrig Pacific recycles products it produces, offering customer’s credit or a circular option for new products. I am very proud of our national recycling network and the buyback initiative that helps our customers enhance their sustainability stories.

As I look ahead, the industry's move towards designing products with recyclability in mind is a source of optimism. Finding new ways to strengthen products that do not require metal reinforcements or extra labels is a positive initial step in helping to make recycling easier. I have also seen customers shift from choosing brightly colored products to a more sustainable choice of black or grey. Reflecting on my journey, marked by a commitment to innovation and sustainability, I'm eager to continue working toward a greener future.