Jim Weber never set out to “SAVE” the world with his recycling efforts, but he did find a way to turn used plastics into new products, thus, Sandhill Plastics was born.
The company has been in business for 18 years and “GROWING“ is an understatement. Jim started out peddling products at local businesses, the company now ships across the globe.
The plastic sheeting is made from recycled plastics purchased from suppliers across the U.S.
From ice rinks in Canada to hog confinements in Asia, to right here in the U.S. for skateboard ramps, the plastic has become very versatile and popular with endless uses.
Weber is a true entrepreneur, entering a business back then that folks knew little about. Quote: “It’s not an interest of mine to save the earth, my interest is economically driven.”
Weber researched recycled products while working at the University of Nebraska in Kearney, always finding a common theme; People were recycling, but not finding a use for it after doing so, causing a break in the recycled loop. Weber filled the gaps by doing his own research after visiting a plant in Omaha.
He developed his own method by using a skillet his wife had in the house, believe it or not. He figured out it would cost approximately $400K to get started with the actual business, and set up a 5 year business plan. He set out to surrounding banks to get financed. He got 3 no’s and 1 maybe. He pursued the maybe and it paid off.
Today, Sandhill Plastics is the largest manufacturer of recycled materials in Nebraska. Truckloads of recycled plastic comes in and truckloads of extruded sheets goes out. Clearly a remarkable feat, considering Weber started from making plastic in a skillet and now has the business you see today, which runs 2 extrusion machines and a full staff.
Manufacturers are catching on more and more since the early 1990’s on how to use post- consumer products. Today, the DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality), awards grants to Nebraska communities for these efforts. Weber has received some of that money to purchase die cut machines, wash machines, and the extruders because the products being made with them are 100% recycled. The first extruder he ever got, he received $64,000 from DEQ as a grant to help out with the start up costs. These machines are costly to purchase and very costly to run. Every bit of financial help was appreciated.
Weber says “If I would have listened to everyone with an idea or better way to run my business, I wouldn’t be here today….I had that 5 year plan and that kept me on course.”
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