April 25, 2008 -- In a drive to build upon its ongoing environmental initiatives, CommScope, Inc. is expanding its cable reel recycling program to customers of Andrew Wireless Solutions, the company's division that specializes in communications systems and products.
CommScope's Andrew Reel Recycling Program is an effort to reduce the waste of reels on which Andrew's HELIAX cables are shipped. CommScope launched its own ReelSmart recycling program in 1988 for its broadband and wireless cable reels, and today recycles more than 66,000 reels per year, saving approximately 20,000 trees annually, says the company. The North Carolina-based company has twice won the state's Governor's Award of Excellence in the large business waste reduction category.
"We expect the Reel Recycling Program to drive a higher level of participation and have a far greater environmental impact than the smaller scale reel recovery program Andrew previously had in place," comments Stan Catey, group vice president and general manager, cable products, Andrew. "We are very excited to leverage CommScope's prior experience in making this program a noteworthy success for customers, ourselves, and the global environment."
The Andrew program will be launched in the U.S. and Western Europe this year. It currently is available in Spain, with the U.S. rollout set for June, to be followed by additional European nations later in the year. Andrew hopes to recycle more than 15,000 reels in the continental U.S. alone during the first year of the program
To encourage participation, Andrew has begun charging customers for reels used for shipping HELIAX cables. These charges will be partially or completely reimbursed to customers who participate in the Reel Recycling Program, depending on the condition of the reels when returned. Reels returned in excellent condition may possibly be awarded reimbursement above the initial charge. Cable reels, made of mostly high grade wood, are used in shipping and storing transmission line cables, with sizes ranging as large as 3.5 meters in diameter.
Andrew's wireless cable customers will realize additional benefits besides environmental goodwill, notes CommScope. In the absence of recycling programs, cable installers usually break down the wooden reels and either burn or dispose of them in landfills. By participating in the Reel Recycling Program, time and labor can be reduced, as installers no longer need perform this function. In addition, customers can avoid being additionally charged for reel disposal or landfill fees by local waste management firms. Andrew expects to establish five recycling centers across the U.S. to which cable reels can be returned.
CommScope cites itself as long-time participant in environmental efforts. The company joined more than 200 other U.S. companies in pledging to rationalize energy consumption and waste as part of the 1992 Energy Policy Act; the company also began voluntarily reporting greenhouse gas emissions in 2002 as part of the Global Climate Change Initiative.
