The Times Herald SUNDAY December 30, 2001 Former area woman makes recycling her own business By Carl Rotenberg Times Herald Staff Kunkletown - Rita Lacey is a champion of recycled products. The Monroe County resident has been selling rubber mulch online, presenting recycling programs at local elementary schools and searching out new recycled products for her www.close-the-loop.com Web site for the past 14 months. The former Montgomery County resident moved to Kunkletown, Monroe County, four years ago when her engineer husband, Brian Lacey, got a job at Agere Inc. in Allentown. Lacey's recycling mantra on her Web site is "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Repair," because she believes that in order to protect the Earth's resources, people need to complete the process of recycling by "closing the loop" and buying the recycled products. The rubber mulch for children's playgrounds can also be used for equestrian arenas. "This is my full-time occupation," said Lacey. "I make some of the items myself and I help others sell on my Internet site." The rubber mulch is used at private residences, public playgrounds, schools, townships and horse arenas. It provides superior shock absorbency for preventing injuries and doesn't break down like wood mulch, according to Lacey. |
The mulch is aimed at solving a daunting ecological problem. Used-tire piles in Pennsylvania grow by 12 million addiitional tires each year. Overall in the U.S., 270 million used tires are discarded each year. Other products available on the Web site include recycled glass wine, liquor and beer bottles that are creatively melted into cheese boards, spoon rests and cheese bowls. And a Seattle company makes artsy love stones and wind chimes out of recycled glass, while a Poconos silversmith makes old silverware into refillable pens, candlesticks and vases. Lacey grew up in East Norriton and graduated from Norristown Area High School in 1980. She earned a liberal arts associate degree from Montgomery County Community College in 1983. She has lived in Pottstown; Phoenixville; Morton, Delaware County; and Thornbury, Chester County. While in the region, Lacey worked as a computer systems analyst for the Burroughs Corp. (now Unisys Corp.) from 1982 to 1990 and as a Unix system administrator at Boeing Helicopters in Ridley Park, Delaware County, from 1991 to 1994. From 1994 to 1996, she did similar system administration work at IMS Health. During her first foray in selling environmentally friendly products in the fall of 2000, she got "a lot of positive feedback" at the Shawnee Balloon Festival. Carl Rotenberg can be reached at crotenberg@timesherald.com or 610-272-2500, ext. 350. Quote of the Day "I thought that it was difficult to buy recycled products. I saw a need for them online." - Rita Lacey Owner of www.close-the-loop.com Web site business |
