PLASTICS RECYCLING PLANT OPENS NEAR AIRPORT; SEN. BOND AMONG THE WELL-WISHERS FOR HARRY SANDERS

SCOTT CITY -- U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond was among the well-wishers Thursday as Harry Sanders officially opened a plastics recycling facility in Scott City on Nash Road.

Sanders, a former vice president of M&W Packaging, said he learned about the recycling business with his father in Europe. He said he determined from market surveys there would be potential for selling his Recy Wall, made from recycled plastics. The wall was developed about 10 years ago in Germany. His company is known as Sanders Enterprises Inc.

One of the main uses for the Recy Wall is along highways. The wall has barriers that contain growing plants, and the wall absorbs high-volume traffic noise. The wall also filters out traffic pollutants and dust, requires no maintenance, and is more attractive than normal traffic barrier walls.

Sanders began developing his idea a year ago, and is opening the plant with five employees. He plans to add 25 more within one year.

"It is the right product at the right time for the right market," said Sanders.

Initially, Sanders said he would use about 75 percent industrial scrap and 25 percent post consumer scrap, but his goal is to eventually utilize 100 percent post consumer scrap. He will be contacting large cities in the Midwest that are trying to get rid of plastic materials recycled at curbside.

Bond said the effort by Sanders to get the plant opened "represents the realization of dreams. We achieve our greatest when we look at challenges in a way where they become open doors rather than barriers."

Bond recalled that both as a member of the Senate and during his time as governor he has been active in trying to find ways to improve the environment by making recycling profitable.

He pointed out that too often trash is separated for recycling, but still winds up in landfills because there is no market for the materials

Bond said government can be a help or hindrance to small businesses, and promised to do all he could to make things better for people like Sanders who wanted to get started. "One of the dreams I have for the future is working with entrepreneurs and risk-takers so they can overcome hurdles and provide good opportunities," said Bond.

The senator also praised the support from the local area, which made it possible for Sanders to secure funding to make the project work.

State Sen. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau recalled how he had first talked about this facility with Sanders a year ago at the office of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority.

Kinder said it was clear that Sanders "is an achiever and a leader who makes things happen ... We knew this was not a pie-in-the-sky dream."

Bond and Kinder both praised the cooperation between the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority of the Department of Natural Resources. The two agencies helped Sanders in receiving loans and grants to develop the plant.

Sanders said: "The Recy Green Living Sound Barrier Wall has major advantages over the existing sound-barrier designs made out of concrete, metal, wood, or even plastic panels. While all of them will reduce some of the noise level, the Recy Wall is the only design that effectively will absorb the noise rather than reflect it back."

The structure is made of 100 percent recycled materials. Crushed glass is used for the drainage, and compost is used as a filler for the wall.