Overhead Transparencies

Overhead Transparencies can now be recycled through a mail-back program offered by the 3M Corporation. Their Solution for Transparency Film Waste involves shipping the used transparency film to a regional recycling facility.

Start a transparency collection program in your building!

Since January of '97, Waste Management Services has been involved with 3M's Transparency Recycling Program. To participate, collect transparencies from your office and either send them to Waste Management Services in campus envelopes, or send them directly to 3M in reasonably sized boxes. If you send them to 3M, send them book freight and please be sure to indicate on the return address what department they are from and include "The University of Michigan".

   3M Recycle Program
   C/O Gemark 99
   Stevens Lane
   Exeter, PA 18643

   Transparency Recycling
   c/o Waste Management Services
   2550 Draper - 2115

Did you know?

• Over 15 million pounds of polyester from transparencies is dumped into landfills each year.
• Most overhead transparencies are made from Type I polyester, the same material that soda bottles are made from. These transparencies are not accepted by most community recycling centers.
• The 3M Corporation recognized this problem and started a program to recycle their transparencies. Anyone can send transparencies to be recycled to the 3M address listed below. The transparencies are shredded upon their arrival at 3M, therefore insuring confidentiality. The shredded material is then converted to fiber fill that is used to make carpets, office chairs, insulating products, automotive products, and more transparencies.

CASE STUDY: Making Transparency Recycling Easy

In an effort to make transparency recycling easier, the School of Natural Resources and Environment set up a collection program throughout their building. Collection containers were placed near paper and container recycling bins on each floor. A volunteer collects the transparencies as needed and ships them to the Gemark Corporation to be recycled. The School advertised their new collection system through e-mail, sending messages to the building occupants and users through existing user groups. Since the new collection program has been in place, the number of transparencies diverted from the waste stream has more than doubled! Super idea!

(UM Waste Management Services does not necessarily endorse 3M products nor make any guarantees about this recycling service.)