November 8, 2011, Petaluma, CA: Advanced Flexible Materials (AFM) and Trex Company continue to grow their successful Heatsheets® Blankets to Boards™ recycling program with participation from the Bank of America Chicago Marathon™ on October 9, 2011. This is the largest race to take part in the program to date. The Blankets to Boards program allows events of any size to recycle and repurpose their Heatsheets® thermal-reflective finish line blankets at Trex collection facilities across the country, for transformation into durable and beautiful wood-alternative decking and railing products.

With unseasonably warm temperatures getting into the high 70s during the race, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon provided 30,000 Heatsheets® to runners, fewer than would be distributed on a cooler day. Approximately 8,700 – or 29 percent – were returned for recycling, with other runners keeping their Heatsheets® as souvenirs. The recycled Heatsheets® were collected in recyclable clear plastic bags and taken to a local Jewel-Osco store where the Heatsheets® were collected along with other # 4 recyclable plastics and transported to Trex for use in their composite decking products.

“Providing a product that is not only made in the US but also recycled here is one of the things that sets AFM apart,” said Stephanie Deigan, president of Heatsheets® event products. “We are thrilled that one of the world’s most prestigious marathons chose to take part in our recycling efforts and that sustainability remains an important part of their event. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is an extremely well organized race and we are proud that the recycling efforts of their Green Team were such a great success.”

Launched in February, Blankets to Boards represents a major improvement in the Heatsheets® recycling process. AFM, which provides reflective insulation technologies for an extensive range of uses, allied with Trex to accept recyclable Heatsheets® directly into its supply chain, primarily through collection at local grocery and department stores. As the nation’s largest manufacturer of wood-alternative decking and railing products, Trex collects, salvages and repurposes plastic – along with wood scrap and sawdust – and turns it all into low-maintenance outdoor living products that stand up to the test of time.

“Through the Blankets to Boards program, Trex is creating a cleaner environment for our consumers and their communities by keeping these materials out of landfills and turning them into eco-friendly outdoor living products,” said Dave Heglas, director of material resources for Trex. “The participation of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon brings a new level of awareness to our program and highlights the importance of reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact at such events.”