institutions but also for its natural beauty and strong workforce ,” says Erin Cunningham , CEO of RecycleBalls .
Rather than the traditional linear recycling process , RecycleBalls uses a circular model , which helps give multiple lives to a single tennis ball .
“ It ’ s possible for us to see the same tennis ball three or four times before we break it down for recycling ,” Cunningham says . “ The average tennis ball is played with for about 10 hours , and RecycleBalls can extend that useful life to 10 years or more .”
The company works with different sports clubs , organizations , sponsors and philanthropies to help spread its recycling efforts and promote sustainability in sports . It currently has more than 6,000 individuals and 2,000 tennis facilities working toward this cause .
CertainTeed Gypsum
Manufacturing company CertainTeed Gypsum recently moved to Moundsville , WV — a decision inspired by the recycling of the alkaline-based solution recovered from coal burning .
This began after the Environmental Protection Agency brought about a rule in the ‘ 70s that required the use of desulfurizing scrubbers during the coal combustion process to reduce sulfur dioxide ( SO 2
) emissions . The SO 2 is removed by the scrubbers as they pass it through that alkaline solution and can then be re-used to make gypsum board , which CertainTeed manufactures .
“ To be strategically located close to one of these coal-fired generation plants allows the gypsum plant to take
An aerial view of Certainteed Gypsum ’ s Moundsville , WV , plant . Photo by CertainTeed Gypsum .
advantage of the byproduct , avoiding landfill and saving on freight of the raw material due to proximity , removing the carbon footprint of trucking ,” Greg Kibert , plant manager for CertainTeed , says .
CertainTeed operates under Saint Gobain , a company that has spearheaded in many ways , becoming the first company to electrify the production of plasterboard at its plant in Norway and commercializing plasterboard made of 50 % recycled product in France .
As its corporate purpose is making the
world a better home , CertainTeed first began hiring employees in Moundsville in 2007 and has worked to protect the environment and help the economy by selling a home-grown , 99 % recycled product that helps conserve water , reduce landfill and decrease CO 2 emissions .
“ Managers and associates are all regularly educated and trained on the importance of being good stewards of the environment and the critical role sustainability plays in our world today ,” Kibert says . “ We continually look for innovative concepts for continuous improvements to the process that edge us closer to a net zero carbon footprint .”
CertainTeed is now working toward a circular economy where both postindustrial and post-consumer waste can be recycled , making things like drywall more sustainable .
“ Because of the high-quality drywall we produce , our customers get excited when they see the West Virginia stamp on the drywall for their project ,” Kibert says . “ We like to think we do our part in enhancing the reputation of West Virginia through the excellent product we produce .” •
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