Not just a recycling company, Northwest Sign Recycling transforms outdated, weathered aluminum signs into clean reusable blanks – without damaging the environment, and saving money. Simply put – a simpler, greener, less expensive way to recycle highway signs.
Since opening its doors in 2004 in Prineville, NW Sign Recycling has worked with organizations and municipalities regionally, throughout the Northwest and nationally. As the demand for preserving the environment and working within tight budgets has become the norm, the company has grown 20-40 percent per year.
It’s good for the budget! This is especially advantageous to accommodate city, county and state budget cuts throughout the nation. As state and federal laws institute new safety standards over the next few years for higher reflectivity signs, ‘stop’ and ‘pedestrian crossing’ signs, sign recycling is expected to become even more popular. Several Central Oregon cities & counties are now using this service. NW Sign Recycling also pays top dollar for unwanted aluminum signs that are damaged, bent or unable to be reused.
“This is the very best way for municipalities to comply with federal mandates while saving money and the environment. We are very excited about the growth we have experienced and look forward to sign recycling becoming the standard for the future,“ says Ryan Middaugh, general manager of
NW Sign Recycling.
How does the process work? Using simple hydrostripping technology, laminates are removed from old aluminum signs with pure water. The process is run by a Programmable Logic Controller (“PLC”) calibrated to match the specifications of each sign to direct a power head across the aluminum sign face, forcing a pressurized stream of water that hits the surface at 36,000 pounds per square inch – stripping the sign down to a reusable sign blank. The surface of the aluminum sign is left smooth and clean, ready for refacing with a new laminate. The hydrostripping process removes any and all laminates, including engineer grade, high intensity and diamond grade reflective sheeting from all shapes and sizes of aluminum signs, front and back. The integrity of the aluminum sign remains intact with no compromise to the metal itself or to any corrosion resistant coatings.
Advantages of sign recycling:
• Saves municipalities and other agencies money
• Allows for reuse of existing signs
• Reduces the need for selling scrap aluminum, sanding blanks and buying new signs at increasing
aluminum prices
• Environmentally friendly option for recycling signs, complies with community recycling mandates
• Earns credit for scrap aluminum signs that are damaged, bent or unusable.
• Provides opportunities for recycling credits to go back to individual department budgets rather than
a general fund, to maintain departmental funding allocations for municipal and government clients.
• Signs are picked up and delivered
More information about NW Sign Recycling can be found at www.nwsignrecycling.com or call Ryan Middaugh at 541-279-0386.
