Re-inventing a local duo”s work identity: Recycling more than trash
Green, green, green — everything”s gone green. To tell you the truth, it”s often terribly difficult to tell whose green efforts are effective and who has simply jumped onto the bandwagon because it”s the cool thing to do.
Assuming that we are in a colossal meltdown (couldn”t tell it by this week”s temps), some businesses in the local area are doing things that make sense, whether we are or are not experiencing a worldwide warm-up. As stewards of the earth, maybe we should be doing “green things” regardless. Hey, that”s a personal call.
Local ”greenery”
One business, Plum Creek Environmental Technologies, LLC, serves as a source for manufacturers, recyclers, government entities and other parties who are interested in developing a green initiative plan.
Jim Wamble, founder and owner, of Plum Creek, told me that his new company is interested in assisting businesses in increasing their profitability.
“We”re a dealer of innovative recycling and waste handling systems and equipment,” he said. “We can assist in helping businesses meet their goals. It”s what we do.”
Wamble was working for Marathon Equipment as their Southern sales manager. The economy soured and he became a distributor for them. An unexpected turn of events. Go figure.
“For years I had seen a need for businesses and industries in the South to have some assistance in getting recycling projects up and going,” he explained.
It appears that since the March 2009 start-up of Plum Creek, sales have increased to more than $400,000. He added Bud Lowe to his staff in August as a result of significant growth. Wamble expects to add more people as his company continues to grow.
Lowe handles much of the accounting end of the business as well as computer/technical issues.
“Yes, I think that this company shows excellent potential for growth, and I”m excited to be here,” said Lowe.
Lowe, too, experienced the necessity for finding new work, ran into Wamble, a long-time friend, and came to work for his golfing bud. Yet another sudden turn of events. Bam!
Covering a large territory
“We have traveled from Texarkana, Texas, all the way into Virginia,” said Wamble. “Our customers include scrap yards, industrial plants, recyclers (plastic, paper, glass, etc.), municipalities, material recovery facilities, waste handlers, landfills, contractors, distribution centers and retailers.”
Local efforts to educate the general public and industries to recycle and “think green” have resulted in mountains of cardboard, steel, aluminum, plastic, glass and other materials. Often the downside for business and industry managers becomes a question of what to do with these colossal heaps of refuse.
“We help get those materials from Point A to Point B,” said Wamble.
Intimidating names
Some of the names of machines that Wamble sells sound a bit weird. One of them is called a “demo grapple ,” and it looks like the long arm of a giant robot. For waste handling there are self-contained and stationary compactors, 1 and 2-ton Roura hoppers, and the aforementioned grapples.
Wamble said, “For handling and processing scrap metal, we sell shears (yes, a massive and scary-looking guillotine shear), scrap presses, and all sorts and sizes of balers. Whatever the size of the job, we can help a business or industry select the right kind of machine.
Under the new RISE (Recycling Investment Saves Energy) legislation, lucrative tax breaks exist for those who participate.
Plum Creek offices are located at 70 Wilcutt Block Road, about one-half mile on the right, past the Columbus Country Club, headed toward Alabama. Their Web site is www.PlumCreekET.com, and Wamble can be reached at 662-364-1677.
John Dorroh is a semi-retired high school science teacher, who writes a business column for The Dispatch.
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