CommScope Expands Recycling Programme for Andrew Cable Customers
CommScope has announced that it is expanding its cable reel recycling programme to customers of Andrew Wireless Solutions, in an effort to reduce the waste of reels on which Andrew's HELIAX cables are shipped. CommScope launched its own ReelSmart recycling programme 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.
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Reels
"We expect the Reel Recycling Programme 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," said 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 Reel Recycling Programme.
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 Programme, depending on the condition of the reels when returned. Reels returned in excellent condition may even 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. In the absence of recycling programmes, cable installers usually break down the wooden reels and either burn or dispose of them in landfills. By participating in the Reel Recycling Programme, time and labor is 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.
Posted to the site on 22nd April 2008
