Valley View Industries recently completed a successful modernization project that was supported by the DCEO Recycling Expansion and Modernization (REM) Program.

Valley View Industries began operation in 1969, and currently employs over 100 workers; it manufactures various recycled content products from both post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials.  Company products include lawn edging, paver restraints, decorative planter line, ground fabric pins, poly board, poly stakes, and various connectors.  The 100% recycled content end products are sold to large retailers, as well as landscape distributors, green houses, stone yards, contractors, irrigation houses, and landscape supply stores.

In previous years, Valley View was unable to meet market demand due to limited manufacturing capability.  However, it was able to expand manufacturing capacity thanks to a DCEO REM grant, which was used to offset the cost required to purchase manufacturing equipment, including a 3.5 inch extruder, air compressor, silo, shrink packaging system and other needed items. 

The REM Program, through matching grants to Illinois businesses for Market Expansion, and Waste Management Modernization projects, diverts materials from the solid waste stream thereby conserving our natural resources, boosts the performance of Illinois businesses to sustain and expand the Illinois economy, and creates jobs.

“The DCEO REM Program helped Valley View to remain cost competitive, and to divert substantial amounts of plastic from Illinois landfills each and every year, while also creating and retaining jobs," said Howard J. Rynberk, Jr., the President of Valley View Industries.  "It is a true pleasure to work with a state agency such as DCEO that understands the recycling industry and the manufacturing processes that go with it. “

The expanded capacity has enabled Valley View to increase production volume and meet new demand from major national retail chains for the company's products.  The project also helped Valley View to remain cost competitive in order to successfully battle out-of-state and foreign competition. The REM project was completed on April 30, 2012, and has yielded impressive benefits for the company, the state of Illinois economy, and the Illinois recycling industry. Benefits include the following:

• The processing of over 3,300 tons of recyclable plastic into recycled content products, thereby diverting this material from the solid waste stream,
• The creation of 17 new positions, and
• Increased sales of recycled content products of over $3.75 million.

DCEO's REM Program helps Illinois businesses and organizations to become "greener."  The REM Program is an opportunity that is good for business, good for the environment, and good for Illinois (more jobs!).  For more information about DCEO's REM Program please follow this link: http://www.ildceo.net/dceo/bureaus/energy_recycling/recycling/grants/rem_program.htm