Coon Manufacturing, Inc. (Spickard)
Coon Manufacturing, Inc. was awarded $50,000 to purchase equipment needed to expand operations to manufacture septic tanks from recovered plastics. Coon Manufacturing anticipates recovering 465.5 tons annually of high densiity, linear low density and polyethylene industrial scrap plastics for this new product line. A 1,000 gallon cement septic tank will weigh approximately 6,000 lbs whereas a plastic tank of the same size will weigh only 600 lbs or less. In addition, the Coon product will be stackable, allowing for easier transport. This project will enable Coon Manufacturing to add up to 5 new employees to its 18-22 employee total base.

EnviroPak (St. Louis)
EnviroPak was awarded $50,000 to purchase equipment to expand their molded paper pulp interior packaging plant in Montgomery City. The company was incorporated in 1995 to meet a growing demand for molded paper pulp packaging. Besides being manufactured from recovered paper, this packaging is 100% biodegradable, 100% recyclable and an economic replacement for traditional packaging materials such as polystyrene. EnviroPak will use 1702.8 tons of recovered newsprint annually in their manufacturing process and will create 15 new jobs with the expansion project.

Mountain Ridge Recycling (Noel)
Mountain Ridge Recycling was awarded $50,000 to purchase a hammermill and mixer to produce an organic, nutrient rich and odor free humus, "Ozark Organics." This product will be used to enhance soil and improve plant growth. With this project, Mountain Ridge Recycling will create 5 new jobs and anticipates diverting over 2,000 tons of waste paper annually, including books, magazines, drywall and other lower grades. The paper is mixed with animal manure to create the end product.

Midwest Mulch Manufacturing (Kansas City)
Midwest Mulch Manufacturing was awarded $35,000 to purchase bagging equipment for their termite controlling and colored wood mulch manufacturing operation. The project will use wood pallets, dimensional lumber cutoffs and cabinet ship scrap to produce a distinctive mulch product that is toxic to termites on contact. The termite controlling feature will provide a unique marketing opportunity for the business. Midwest Mulch Manufacturing anticipates diverting over 2,800 tons of scrap wood each year and creating 7 new jobs with this project.

Tico Manufacturing, Inc. (Unionville)
Tico Manufacturing, Inc. was awarded $50,000 to purchase grinding equipment to produce wood mulch and animal bedding at their pallet recycling business. The company currently repairs about 500 pallets each day and dismantles about 1,000. While some of the remaining unusable scrap is burned for heating fuel at the operation, an additional amount of scrap has been transported for disposal. The purchase of a grinder to produce the new products will reduce Tico's waste disposal costs and create two full time employee positions. Tico Manufacturing anticipates diverting 2,600 tons of scrap annually with this project.

Tiro Block, LLC (Kansas City)
Tiro Block, LLC, was awarded $50,000 to purchase equipment to use in the manufacture of sound barriers and erosion control walls. These products will be constructed of baled automobile tires encased in concrete. The owner of Tiro Block intends to demonstrate the product at his primary Kansas City business, Avenue Auto Wrecking and anticipates developing markets for sound barriers in the Kansas City area as has occured in other large metropolitan areas. Tiro Block anticipates diverting 400 tons of tires each year and creating 4 new jobs with this project.

Proctor and Gamble Paper Products Co. (Cape Girardeau)
Proctor and Gamble Paper Products Company was awarded $50,000 to purchase equipment that will allow the recycling of "diaper dust" collected in the manufacture of its Pampers brand diaper product. Diaper dust is primarily short fiber paper fines and a proprietary absorbant material. Proctor and Gamble has been sending approxomately 150 tons of diaper dust to a landfill each month. The absorbant material necessary to diaper production may add value to new products and the company has identified test markets for the dust. Proctor and Gamble anticipates diverting 2,600 tons of diaper dust each year with this project.

City of Columbia
The City of Columbia was awarded $50,000 to purchase a windrow compost turner to enhance its compost operation and develop a marketable compost product. Presently, no Columbia business produces or sells bulk amounts of compost. Columbia is currently recovering drywall and sawdust in its compost operation along with yardwaste and approximately 1,500 tons annually of cellulose casings generated by Columbia Foods. Columbia anticipates diverting 2,600 tons of waste each year with this project and will continue to increase amounts and types of feedstock.

Reynolds County Sheltered Workshop (Bunker)
The Reynolds County Sheltered Workshop was awarded $50,000 to purchase equipment to expand their recovery of construction and demolition wood waste. The workshop currently builds a variety of wood objects, both decorative and functional. They have been unable to meet customer demands for their unique wood storage buildings and hope to increase production with the addition of new equipment. Reynolds County Sheltered Workshop anticipates diverting an additional 57 tons of waste each year with this project and creating 7 new employee positions.