Members of the GREEN-PR network traveled to the Eastern region of Puerto Rico on February 4, 2016 to visit Plastic Home Products in Maunabo, the only company in Puerto Rico that closes the loop of the the entire recycling process. The company manufactures new products using materials that would otherwise go to a landfill.
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Inside the factory, there is a large quantity of various types of plastics bound for recycling, including pre-consumer plastic bottle manufacturing waste, post-consumer beverage bottles and gallon jugs, and even excess medical plastics from pharmaceutical companies. First, the material is shredded and sanitized. The shredded plastic is then melted down and fed into machines that mold the plastic into household items such as buckets, dustpans, “tostoneras” (a tool useful in making tostones, a delicious example of Caribbean cuisine), citrus fruit juicers, garden pots and other containers. Workers then snip off the residual plastic from the molding process and prepare the products for wholesale.
In this factory, pelletized plastics will be turned into new materials, like this sweeping pan.
Recycling and reusing are important parts of the company’s philosophy. The company also cuts waste by reusing any plastic residues from the molding process as well as any products that are defective. The plastic is fed once more into the shredder to become new products. Products are also shipped in reused carton boxes.
The company was the idea and creation of Mr. Juan Pillot, who prepared the building and assembled the machines himself. Most of the machines are also reused or have reused pieces that he salvaged or bought from other factories. Before pursuing his own business venture, Pillot had worked in the pharmaceutical industry with similar machines. Even though the present state of the economy has been a challenge, Pillot believes in the need for this type of industry and in the potential for recycling to generate jobs. He mentioned that although the high cost of electricity is a major challenge his business faces, the company currently employs eight people, some of them part-time.
The company was the idea and creation of Mr. Juan Pillot, who prepared the building and assembled the machines himself. Most of the machines are also reused or have reused pieces that he salvaged or bought from other factories. Before pursuing his own business venture, Pillot had worked in the pharmaceutical industry with similar machines. Even though the present state of the economy has been a challenge, Pillot believes in the need for this type of industry and in the potential for recycling to generate jobs. He mentioned that although the high cost of electricity is a major challenge his business faces, the company currently employs eight people, some of them part-time.
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Here, mop buckets are warm right out of the oven.
After the tour, participants took a tour of the Natural Reserve Punta Tuna Wetland and its surroundings, as well the Maunabo Lighthouse, to learn about community-based environmental protection initiatives. The day concluded with a visit to Ana Roque de Duprey High School, in Humacao, where Tainachí Fernández, recipient of a GREEN-PR mini-grant through Puerto Rico Composta Inc., showed the Stewards one of their composting projects.
Vertical garden made from reused plastic bottles at Ana Roque de Duprey High School in Humacao.
At the high school, science teachers and students have created a composting station that receives compostable materials from the school’s kitchen, as well from students’ and teachers’ homes. Teachers from other subjects have become part of the initiative and have integrated these topics in their curricula. The project is also being expanded into another school project centered on agriculture.
More pictures of our visit to Plastic Home Products in Maunabo.
PRRP Disclaimer of Endorsement:
Any reference to a specific product, process, or service does not constitute or imply an endorsement by Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership of the product, process, or service, or its producer or provider. The views and opinions expressed in any referenced document do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership.
Ninguna referencia a un producto, proceso o servicio constituye o implica el endoso por parte del Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership a ese producto, proceso o servicio, o su proveedor. Las opiniones o expresiones en cualquier documento o publicación hecha o citada no necesariamente reflejan ni constituyen las opiniones del Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership.
Any reference to a specific product, process, or service does not constitute or imply an endorsement by Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership of the product, process, or service, or its producer or provider. The views and opinions expressed in any referenced document do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership.
Ninguna referencia a un producto, proceso o servicio constituye o implica el endoso por parte del Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership a ese producto, proceso o servicio, o su proveedor. Las opiniones o expresiones en cualquier documento o publicación hecha o citada no necesariamente reflejan ni constituyen las opiniones del Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership.
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