Roppe Introduces Rubber Recycling Program

Fostoria, OH, June 22, 2009--Roppe Corporation has rolled out Impact, its rubber products recycling program.

Roppe’s rubber flooring products can now be recycled.

“We hope that this program will encourage the use of rubber flooring products among designers who have not considered rubber in the past due to the environmental concerns at the end of the product’s life cycle,” said Dee Dee Brickner, Roppe marketing coordinator.

Roppe has figured out how to recycle rubber that still has adhesive on it, which has been a barrier to recycling, and has developed a proprietary process. The materials will be used to create other products.

“Many of our contractor partners have expressed that the process will ultimately end up being cost neutral when considering the cost to landfill the products versus shipping them to our recycling partner," Brickner said.

"They also stated that much like the recycling pioneers in the carpet industry, Roppe’s rubber recycling process on the jobsite will eventually become a standard practice among contractors. We are the first to implement a program of this sort for installed rubber products and samples in the field and we are excited to see how it will be received.”

The most popular products using recycled rubber are municipal landscaping mulches, playground surfacing and rubber crumb for athletic fields and other applications. Specialty products such as pavers and edgings can also be made as needed.

The rubber is treated with a new EPA-approved paint that is available in an array of eight colors, which means it doesn’t matter what color the product is that is being recycled.

The following products have been approved to be recycled: Pinnacle Rubber Base, AlphaBase, BaseMates, Pinnacle Plus Wall Base, Rubber Corner Blocks, Dimensions Rubber Tile, Smooth and Marbleized Rubber Tile, Raised Design Rubber Tile and Tread, SafeTcork Rubber Tile and Tread, Fiesta Rubber Tile and Tread, SafeTcork Fiesta Rubber Tile and Tread, Designer’s Choice Rubber Tile, Spike/Skate Resistant Tile, Recoil Fitness Flooring, Tuflex Recycled Rubber Tile and Rubber Accessories.