Contact: Marilyn Gottlieb, The Crescendo Group (631) 288-4596
Quogue, New York, April 1, 2008…Post Consumer Carpet Processing Technologies (PCC) has been named the national winner for the United States and one of three winners in the Earth category of the World ENERGY GLOBE Award. PCC was selected out of 853 projects from 109 countries.
PCC is being honored because their new technology enables companies to recycle used carpets, save oil and help clear landfills. Each line of the machinery can reclaim up to 30 million pounds of used carpet annually. The equipment separates oil-based fiber from oil-based carpet backing. Both materials can be reused, thereby promoting sustainability and saving energy.
The new technology was developed by PCC co-owners Frank J. Levy, President of Stellamcor, Inc., in Quogue, NY and Sergio Dell’Orco, President of Dell’Orco & Villani, S.r.l., in Capalle, Italy. Dell’Orco & Villani has been manufacturing textile recycling machinery since 1946. Frank J. Levy teamed up with Sergio Dell’Orco 30 years ago, providing engineering and sales services in the textile recycling industry. Stellamcor and D&V are small family businesses.
It has been estimated that five billion pounds of non-biodegradable used carpet are dumped into landfills in the U.S. every year. Placed in one spot, the solid waste would need a hole one mile by one mile by 100 feet deep every year. “If incinerated.” says Levy, “the carpets will release toxic chemicals. If accumulated, they never will disintegrate, posing terrible problems for future generations”.
“Our equipment takes apart petrol chemical components that make up the carpet,” says Dell’Orco. “By reusing the components, business people can be both profitable and socially responsible. We hope the recognition from this award will stimulate companies and governments to help clean up the Earth’s landfills”.
PCC has licensed its technology to Interface, Inc., the world’s third largest carpet manufacturer. The first line of PCC machinery has been running in LaGrange, Georgia since September 2007 with additional lines planned in the near future.
“At the Interface companies, we are constantly seeking materials and processes that take less from the environment,” explained Eric Nelson, Vice President, Strategic Alliances for Interface Americas. “PCC’s innovative technology will help Interface along our path to Mission Zero™, which is our company’s goal to eliminate any negative impact it has on the environment by the year 2020.
The World ENERGY GLOBE Award was started in 1999 to honor projects that make economical use of resources and employ alternative energy sources. The 2007 winners will be presented May 26, 2008 at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. Categories include Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Youth. The event will be broadcast by international TV stations expected to reach 2.5 billion households.
For more information about the World ENERGY GLOBE Award log on to www.energyglobe.info.