CommScope Expands Recycling Program for Andrew Cable Customers

In a drive to build upon its ongoing environmental initiatives, CommScope Inc. is expanding its cable reel recycling program to customers of Andrew Wireless Solutions, the company's division focused on communications systems and products. The Andrew Reel Recycling Program is an effort to reduce the waste of reels on which Andrew's HELIAX cables are shipped. CommScope launched its own ReelSmart recycling program in 1988 for its broadband and wireless cable reels, and today recycles more than 66,000 reels per year, saving approximately 20,000 trees annually. The North Carolina-based company has twice won the Governor's Award of Excellence in the large business waste reduction category.

"We expect the Reel Recycling Program to drive a higher level of participation and have a far greater environmental impact than the smaller scale reel recovery program Andrew previously had in place," says Stan Catey, Group Vice President and General Manager, Cable Products, Andrew. "We are very excited to leverage CommScope's prior experience in making this program a noteworthy success for customers, ourselves, and the global environment."

The Andrew program will be launched in the US and Western Europe this year. It currently is available in Spain, with the US rollout set for June, to be followed by additional European nations later in the year. Andrew hopes to recycle more than 15,000 reels in the continental US alone during the first year of the Reel Recycling Program.

To encourage participation, Andrew has begun charging customers for reels used for shipping HELIAX cables. These charges will be partially or completely reimbursed to customers who participate in the Reel Recycling Program, depending on the condition of the reels when returned. Reels returned in excellent condition may even be awarded reimbursement above the initial charge. Cable reels, made of mostly high grade wood, are used in shipping and storing transmission line cables, with sizes ranging as large as 3.5m in diameter.

Andrew's wireless cable customers will realize additional benefits besides environmental goodwill. In the absence of recycling programs, cable installers usually break down the wooden reels and either burn or dispose of them in landfills. By participating in the Reel Recycling Program, time and labor is reduced as installers no longer need perform this function. In addition, customers can avoid being additionally charged for reel disposal or landfill fees by local waste management firms. Andrew expects to establish five recycling centers across the US to which cable reels can be returned.

CommScope has been an active and long-time participant in environmental efforts. It joined more than 200 US companies in pledging to rationalize energy consumption and waste as part of the 1992 Energy Policy Act. The company also began voluntarily reporting greenhouse gas emissions in 2002 as part of the Global Climate Change Initiative.