BLOOMSBURG, PA. — Thermoplastic sheet maker Kydex LLC, branched out beyond its manufacturing facility in Bloomsburg, Pa., to donate trees and recycling receptacles to Columbia Park in South Centre Township.
Children of employees served as "eco ambassadors" for the program initiated by Kydex's parent company, Sekisui Co. Ltd. For a week in August, Sekisui employees around the world took on conservation, education, recycling, waste-reduction and reforestation projects.
Kydex gave two 15-foot sweet gum trees and four recycling containers to the park and also expanded its corporate recycling program to employees. They collected more than a ton of recyclable materials from batteries and cardboard to computers, monitors and small electronics.
Eco ambassadors Katsu Yoshimizu, 15, Mai Yoshimizu, 12, both of Danville; Olivia McCormick, 13, from Seven Valleys; and Hayley Phelan, 14, of Montoursville prepared the recyclables for shipment to Bloomsburg Recycling Center. They also planted the trees and set up the recycling bins.
Dale Sneidman, South Centre Township secretary/treasurer, said he was happy to see youth involved with Sekisui Environmental Week 2013.
"Projects like these teach valuable lessons to our children about what it means to be civic minded and care for your environment," he said.
Sneidman said the trees are a valuable donation to the community.
"Sweet gum trees can grow to 100 feet tall," he noted. "Their shade will be welcome, and the recycling receptacles most helpful. Both will add to the beauty our constituents enjoy."
Kydex designs and makes thermoplastic sheets for a wide array of industries, including aviation, mass transit and medical devices. It was known as the Kleerdex Co. when it was purchased by Sekisui in 1990. Sekisui became the first Japanese plastics manufacturer in the United States when it opened a plant in Pennsylvania to manufacture polystyrene paper in the 1960s.
