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ALUMINUM SIGN RECYCLING Final Report

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ALUMINUM SIGN RECYCLING
Final Report
SR 500-510
by
Jon Lazarus, Researcher, Oregon Department of Transportation
Oregon Department of Transportation
Research Section

The intent of this investigation was to determine whether aluminum signs that underwent the hydrostripping process would meet ODOT’s specification for sign blanks based primarily on whether the anti-corrosive coating was removed during stripping process. Due to a change in the anti-corrosive coating applied to new sign blanks, which resulted in two types of coatings in ODOT’s sign inventory, the outcome of the investigation was a set of baseline measurements for the hydro-stripping process. Link to full report (PDF) here.

NORTHWEST SIGN RECYCLING EMBRACES ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

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Environmental stewardship refers to responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices.

BEND, Ore. – July 11, 2013 – This stewardship goes hand in hand with Northwest Sign Recycling’s present day to day operations and future goals. When you consider the impact production of new aluminum has on our environment, you will see how Northwest Sign Recycling is part of the solution for sustainability.

Environmental issues of aluminum production and the benefits of recycling

Aluminum does not exist in its pure form in nature; it must be extracted from ore and produced. Aluminum production is a relatively energy intensive process that requires some 13 million watt-hours per ton of metal produced. On average, it takes 15.7 kWh of electricity to produce one kilogram of aluminum. Recycled aluminum, however, requires only 5 percent of the energy used to make “new” aluminum, due to its lower melting point.

For example, recycling one pound of aluminum saves 90-95% of the energy needed to produce aluminum from bauxite ore. The recycling of that one pound of aluminum saves about 7kWh of electricity. With the energy it takes to make just one new aluminum can from bauxite ore, you can make 20 recycled cans. Putting that energy savings into a more down-to-earth perspective, recycling one can conserves enough energy to power a television set for three hours.And, there is no difference between primary and recycled aluminum; aluminum is considered a sustainable metal and can be recycled indefinitely with no loss of material.

How Northwest Sign Recycling is doing our part

In our facility, we hydrostrip an average of 15 tons per year of aluminum road signs, that have been taken down for various reasons. Once their old laminates are stripped, they can be refaced and put back into service.This means that tonnage isn’t going back to the smelter and we’re saving the energy that would have been used to melt it down. We also recycle an additional 30 tons per year,which is processed using less energyand with a lower environmental impact compared to producing new aluminum.

Here are some astonishing statistics. The hydrostripping done here at Northwest Sign Recycling saves our environment 471,000 kWh per year. Our recycling of damaged signs back to the smelters saves our environment 420,000 kWh per year. The average American home consumes 11,280 kWh per year. The combined savings from NWSR are sufficient to power 79 homes for a year.

The CO2 emissions not produced from the energy we saved recycling would equal thoseemitted by the use of 26,194 propane cylinders for home barbeques or that of 8.3 tanker trucks worth of gasoline. That is a sobering thought.

More and more companies, municipalities, government agencies, and individuals are seeing the benefits of environmental stewardship.Northwest Sign Recycling is one of those companies,and we are spreading the word. We have shown what can be done recycling and repurposing,and would like to serve as an example to others on how we can all make a difference. We hope that everyone will take a moment and ask themselves,“How can I work on my environmental stewardship and strive for sustainability?” Take the steps; we have shown it is worth it.

Resources:

About Northwest Sign Recycling

Northwest Sign Recycling transforms outdated, weathered aluminum signs into clean, reusable blanks, greatly reducing costs without damaging the environment. Since opening its doors in 2004, the company has worked with hundreds of organizations and municipalities regionally, throughout the Western U.S. and nationally.

Advantages of hydrostripping:

  • Saves time and money
  • Allows for reuse of existing signs
  • Reduces the need for sanding blanks and/or buying new signs at increasing aluminum prices
  • Environmentally friendly option for recycling signs, complies with recycling mandates
  • Earns credit for scrap aluminum signs that are damaged, bent or unusable
  • Provides opportunities for recycling credits to go back to individual department budgets rather than a general fund, to maintain departmental funding allocations for municipal and government clients

More information about Northwest Sign Recycling can be found athttp://www.nwsignrecycling.com/.

Sustainability Awards

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Congratulations to Northwest Sign Recycling on being a winner at the Portland Business Journal’s Innovation in Sustainability Awards! On November 14th, Northwest Sign Recycling will be recognized as a winner in the Waste category.

Oregon Recycles Street and Highway Signs to Save Environment

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BY: Brian Peteritas | June 11, 2012

Old highway and street signs can be difficult to recycle and expensive for governments to replace constantly. To reduce their costs and help the environment at the same time the state of Oregon is in the midst of a two year pilot program reports KTVZ.com News.

The State Department of Transportation (ODOT) awarded a $150,000 contract to a private company, Northwest Sign Recycling, and charged them with the task of finding cost-effective and environmentally friendly ways of reusing old signs. They distributed sign collections bins at State Highway Department locations throughout the state and began collecting old signs. Once obtained the signs are hydrostripped with highly pressurized streams of water that removes lettering and any reflective coating. After they are clean they are given to ODOT to be relettered and put back into use. The process is very environmentally friendly because no chemicals are used and the old signs do not end up in landfills. So far over 500 signs have been resurfaced in just four months and the state has saved 41 percent within its sign budget during that time.

Gov Praises Prineville Road-Sign Recycler

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BEND, Ore. –BY: KTVZ | June 8, 2012Governor Kitzhaber praised the initial success of the Oregon Sign Reuse pilot program after a recent visit to Northwest Sign Recycling. Since the project kicked off in February, the first phase of 500 hydrostripped and refaced aluminum street signs has proven a 41% overall savings within the state sign budget.

?This pilot project is an excellent example of how Oregon?s Regional Solutions Teams are supporting local priorities and economic development opportunities for businesses large and small,? said Governor Kitzhaber. ?Working with companies like Northwest Signs, which is filling important business and transportation needs using recycled materials, is encouraging, because their innovative success has a positive ripple effect throughout Central Oregon and beyond.?

The Prineville-based sign recycling and refacing company, NWSR, was awarded the $150,000 two-year pilot contract by the Oregon State Department of Transportation (?ODOT?) to execute the project. The company transforms outdated, weathered aluminum highway and street signs into clean reusable blanks, without damaging the environment, greatly reducing Oregon?s sign costs and creating more jobs in the region.

?The ODOT Sign Shop in Salem has received over 500 resurfaced sign blanks from NWSR in virtually new form,? said Lori Webb, ODOT Sign Shop. ?We are off to a great start with the pilot project. A true win-win for the environment and Oregon sign budget.?

The project kicked off in February with the distribution of sign bins at State Highway Department Yards in five locations throughout the State of Oregon, including: Bend, La Grande, Troutdale, Roseburg, and Salem. NWSR is leading the process of collecting and recycling the signs using a hydrostripping technology, where reflective sign sheeting is removed from old aluminum signs using only water. The process is run by a Programmable Logic Controller calibrated to match the specifications of each sign to direct a power head across the aluminum sign face, forcing a pressurized stream of water that hits the surface at 36,000 pounds per square inch ? stripping the sign down to a reusable sign blank. The surface of the aluminum sign is left smooth and clean, ready for refacing with a new reflective sign sheeting. This process is clear of chemicals or erosive solutions, making it the greenest sign refacing process on the market.

?We were pleased to host Governor Kitzhaber at our facility and share with him the process we use to recycle aluminum signs. The savings reported by ODOT are right where we estimated they would be and a true financial improvement to any budget. The contract with the State of Oregon has set a new standard for other states and municipalities to save money, energy and improve sustainability,? added Every.

About Northwest Sign Recycling

Northwest Sign Recycling transforms outdated, weathered aluminum signs into clean, reusable blanks, greatly reducing costs without damaging the environment. Since opening its doors in 2004 in Prineville, Oregon, the company has worked with hundreds of organizations and municipalities regionally, throughout the Western U.S. and nationally. Advantages of sign recycling:

? Saves municipalities and agencies money

? Allows for reuse of existing signs

? Reduces the need for selling scrap aluminum, sanding blanks and/or buying new signs at increasing aluminum prices

? Environmentally friendly option for recycling signs, complies with community recycling mandates

? Earns credit for scrap aluminum signs that are damaged, bent or unusable

? Provides opportunities for recycling credits to go back to individual department budgets rather than a general fund, to maintain departmental funding allocations for municipal and government clients

? Signs are picked up and delivered

More information about Northwest Sign Recycling can be found at www.nwsignrecycling.com or call 541-279-0386.

  • Copyright 2012 KTVZ. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

NORTHWEST SIGN RECYCLING HAS BEEN AWARDED CONTRACT BY THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO PILOT SIGN REUSE PROGRAM

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The local, woman-owned company will sustainably reface and recycle highway and street signs for the State, producing more jobs in the region

BEND, OR – January 11, 2012 – Northwest Sign Recycling (“NWSR”), a Prineville-based sign recycling and refacing company, has been awarded a two year pilot contract by the Oregon State Department of Transportation (“ODOT”) to execute the aluminum sign reuse program. NWSR and ODOT will work collaboratively toward a cost-effective and sustainable approach for the reuse of aluminum signs throughout Oregon, versus buying new. The company will transform outdated, weathered aluminum highway and street signs into clean reusable blanks, without damaging the environment, greatly reducing Oregon’s sign budget and creating more jobs in the region.

Lori Webb, with the ODOT Sign Shop in Salem said, “We are eager to come full circle with the implementation of a sign reuse program. This new challenge into unchartered territory will pilot the process of hydrostripping signs and refacing them for reuse, which will potentially save the State of Oregon thousands of dollars while also helping to reduce environmental waste.”

The program will kick-off in the next 30 days with the distribution of sign bins at State Highway Department Yards in four locations throughout the State of Oregon, including: Bend, La Grande, Troutdale, Roseburg, and Salem. NWSR will lead the process of collecting and recycling the signs using a hydrostripping technology, where reflective sign sheeting is removed from old aluminum signs with pure water. The process is run by a Programmable Logic Controller calibrated to match the specifications of each sign to direct a power head across the aluminum sign face, forcing a pressurized stream of water that hits the surface at 36,000 pounds per square inch – stripping the sign down to a reusable sign blank. The surface of the aluminum sign is left smooth and clean, ready for refacing with a new reflective sign sheeting. This process is clear of chemicals or erosive solutions, making it the greenest sign refacing process on the market.

“We are thrilled to have been awarded this contract to work with ODOT to help establish a sustainable sign recycling program for the state,” said Wendie Every, NWSR. “The fundamental need for the revamp of hundreds of signs within Oregon and what we can provide is a clear win for everyone – saving the State thousands on their sign budget while recycling signs in an environmentally friendly format, and producing jobs in the region,” added Every.