Industry events can be sustainable!
The Destroy Responsibly™ program by WEIMA aims to reduce the environmental impact of large exhibitions. Frequently at these events, machinery demonstrations on the tradeshow floor generate significant waste that is typically thrown away at the end of the show. WEIMA stepped in to divert some of that wood waste from a landfill so it can be given a second life.
Shredding solutions for wood industry exhibitions
WEIMA began the Destroy Responsibly™ program at the International Woodworking Fair in 2008. Since then, the program has been adopted by the AWFS Fair, which is held every other year in Las Vegas, Nevada. A WEIMA single-shaft shredder is set up and in full operation behind the show hall, and Freeman workers will be collecting the scrap wood from booths throughout the four day event. Exhibitors and attendees are encouraged to follow the green carpet and head out back to watch it shred.
Size reduction makes recycling more convenient
Wood waste is often bulky and hard to move around. Shredding that scrap clears up space within an operation that is valuable. In 2019, the AWFS Fair was able to drop the amount of wood waste from 200 cubic yards of debris to 30 yards of debris. WEIMA partnered with Repurpose America, a non-profit organization that works to educate the community about sustainability and the environment. Repurpose America coordinated the donation of the shredded solid wood waste to the agricultural program at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas to be used as ground cover and in compost.
Read more about the Destroy Responsibly™ program at the AWFS Fair
Plastics industry events and sustainability
The Destroy Responsibly™ program is not just for the wood industry. Plastics industry events benefit from on-site recycling technology as well! In 2018, WEIMA partnered with PLASTICS, Freeman, and Commercial Plastics Recycling to initiate the program at NPE: The Plastics Show. A WEIMA WLK 13 single-shaft shredder was installed behind the tradeshow hall in Orlando and was running throughout the show’s duration. The shredder was part of a two-stage system, meaning it was connected by conveyors to a granulator and air system for proper size reduction. Once the granulate was created, Commercial Plastics Recycling was able to take it to their facility to be processed and sold as post-consumer resin. This resin is used to make new products that we use every day, giving what would traditionally be considered trash a second life.
Read more about WEIMA's impact at NPE2018
NPE2024 - The Plastics Show
NPE2024’s Destroy Responsibly™ program achieved new heights this year, surpassing its previous iterations in 2015 and 2018. The Recycling Zone, located behind the West Hall, featured a WEIMA WLK 15 single-shaft shredder and two LM 600/1000 granulators in action. These machines processed pre-sorted plastic scrap generated from show floor demonstrations, pre-shredding it for further recycling. Commercial Plastics Recycling, Inc. then shipped the size-reduced plastic material off-site to be reintroduced to plastics manufacturers and transformed into new products.
The program aimed to divert 100% of plastic waste, recycling over 6 tons, thus achieving the most sustainable NPE to date!
Read more about the Destroy Responsibly™ Program at NPE2024
IWF Atlanta - International Woodworking Fair
WEIMA’s Destroy Responsibly™ initiative at IWF 2024 successfully demonstrated the power of sustainable wood waste management. The WLK 15 single-shaft shredder processed over 400 cubic yards of wood waste generated during the event, significantly reducing the volume require for transport and thereby reducing transportation costs and emissions.
By reducing wood waste volume by up to 80%, WEIMA’s shredding technology contributed to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly IWF. This initiative not only benefited the event organizers but also showcased the potential for innovation and waste reduction in the woodworking industry!
Read more about the Destroy Responsibly™ Program at IWF Atlanta 2024