Vinyl. PVC. Plastic. When you hear these words, “environmentally friendly” probably isn’t the first thing to come to mind. Well, here at WamBam, we are dedicated to being a part of a movement to change that. But before we dive into the fascinating world of recycling, let’s get some general science out of the way.

What is PVC? Polyvinyl chloride (try saying that 5 times fast) is the world’s third-most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer. PVC, also known as vinyl, has inherent sustainability characteristics. The basic raw materials are made from rock salt and oil.  It contains less carbon than most major thermoplastics. Because of this, it can be found in anything from construction materials, clothing, and you guessed it- fence! There is much more to it but we’ve got a link here if you want to know the nitty gritty:

https://www.lenntech.com/polyvinyl-chloride-pvc.htm

Specifically, our vinyl fence is made from rigid PVC which does not contain any phthalates or BPA, which allows the material to be safe and stable. Now we have all heard about the impact plastics are making on the environment and we are not here to tell you the science is wrong, but we are here to say things can change for the better if we all take the steps to change them. Here at WamBam, we decided it was time to lead by example and start recycling our unused vinyl materials, instead of only donating them, to keep them out of landfills.

How is PVC recycled? Unfortunately, we aren’t in the future yet where PVC will be part of our bi-weekly recycling pick-up, so we had to do our research. Luckily, there is a state-of-the-art facility right in our own backyard!

JP Industrial has been in the plastics recycling game for over 30 years and knows a thing or two about PVC. We spent months collecting all scrap or damaged pieces of vinyl from our warehouse to be taken to their facility in Salisbury, NC. Once there, the vinyl goes through a drastic make-over. There are many steps that make up this process which depend on what the recycled material will be used for.  The basic process is: sort, shred, wash, extrude, granulate. Once the PVC is broken down into a powder or pellets, it can then be used to mold entirely new products. Because PVC is so durable, this process can be repeated 7 to 8 times- that is a 120-year life span! If recycled correctly, your great, great-grandchildren can play with toys made from your old fence; just imagine the possibilities!

We were quite lucky to have JP Industrial close enough to do a pick-up for us because, this last time alone, we sent off 15,386 pounds of vinyl to be recycled! We were able to prevent over 15 thousand pounds of PVC from going to the landfill; just think of the overall impact this recycling process can have on our environment. Creating new products from recycled vinyl not only keeps these products out of landfills, but it also cuts down on emissions from creating new PVC. At WamBam, we are taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint one picket at a time and encourage everyone to do the same. Stay tuned for updates on our recycling program!

We have been experiencing unprecedented sales volume, and as much as we hate to admit it, we just can’t keep up. We are sorry for the inconvenience and working hard to clear the backlog.

We are able to complete orders for the following product:

• Plain Jane Vinyl Fence

Following is a list of approximate dates of when our fence styles will be in stock. Please keep in mind that in many instances product is moving so quickly that upcoming shipments are getting sold in advance, so the below dates are a guideline only. For more information or to reserve future inventory, please call a project consultant at 877.778.5733.

• Jiminy Picket Vinyl Fence (Aug 31)
• Slim Jim Aluminum Fence (October 8)
• Handy Andy Aluminum Fence (August 29)
• 5ft. Vinyl Post (September 18)
• Vinyl Surface Mount (September 18)
• Universal Vinyl Angle Helper Kit (October 20)
• Nantucket Vinyl Picket Fence (September 12)
• Nantucket Vinyl Picket Gate (September 24)
• Sturbridge Vinyl Yard and Pool Fence (September 12)
• Sturbridge Vinyl Yard and Pool Gate (September 12)
• No-Dig 4ft. Vinyl Fence Post with Anchor and Cap (September 12)
• Washington Vinyl Garden Fence Kit (September 11)

During these difficult times, we feel grateful that we are in this predicament, but it’s still causing a lot of stress. We know this is disappointing for our customers, and since we strive to give our customers a good experience, the fact that we can’t get people the product they need is weighing heavily on us. We ask for your patience during these times and assure you that we are doing everything we can to get our stock levels back up.

Our team is growing! Want to join us?

We are expanding our team and hiring for a variety of positions. Our recruiting website nychbrands.com talks more about our culture, open positions, and the application process.

Our application process is more involved than average, and there’s a reason for this- it’s a great way for us to filter candidates. If people can’t be bothered to follow instructions on an application form, then they probably will not be a fit for our company. We also ask all candidates to submit a brief video telling us about themselves.

Why We Ask Job Candidates For a Video

1. We allow people to submit their video by either uploading a file or posting a link. We do not provide instruction on how to do this. One of our company culture mantras is “Everything is Figureoutable.” If someone cannot be bothered to figure out how to submit a video file or link, this is a very good indicator that they aren’t going to last in our culture.
2. Submitting a video takes some time.  If someone is truly interested in a position at our company, they will be willing to jump through a few hoops. If people don’t want to put forth the effort, that communicates to us that they aren’t overly interested.
3. Some of our positions require excellent verbal communication skills. A video helps us determine what kind of communicator applicants are.

When we post jobs on traditional job sites, we can can get up to hundreds of applicants. Asking applicants to submit a video is a great way to whittle down the list.

Learn more about our culture and application process on our Nych Brands website.

This piece on garden fences was written by freelance contributor Sally Perkins.

Cutting the Lawn Without Destroying the Fence

Manicured lawns are beautiful and desirable, but are not always easy to obtain. Making them look nice requires a lot of work, and some extra knowledge. Grass grows fast, especially during the rainy months, so keeping it at bay is often a weekly chore. You’ll need to mow the lawn often, and you’ll need to manicure the areas around the fence. The lawn mower simply cannot get the blades of grass closest to the fence. When you’ve got a great fence to preserve, you don’t want to ruin it with dangerous lawn mower blades.

Start with a Trimmer

Use a weed eater with a line, not a blade, to trim the edges near the fence. The line weed eater will be easier and cheaper to repair than the blade version, if it accidentally hits the fence. You’ll need to trim the grass near the fence without touching it to avoid damage. Use the trimmer a half inch away from the fence post. If it is possible, shorten the bottom of the fence posts by three inches to allow the trimmer to reach underneath the fence. If this is not possible, consider aluminum tips to protect the fence against the trimmer. When trimming around a chain link fence, time and patience work best. Carefully trim between each fence portion to clean away the grass.

Consider a New Garden

Think about using mulch around the bottom of the fence posts to reduce the amount of growing grass. This is why many people include flowers at the bottom of a fence. Flowers such as marigolds or daisies look wonderful around a fence, as do small garden statues to help reduce grass growth. If flowers are out of the question, however, placing a small ring of mulch around each fence post will go unnoticed among a larger yard. Simply apply a circle of mulch a half inch thick around the posts to hold back grass growth and reduce fence damage. You’ll be able to control the lines around the fence post, and, if done properly, you’ll be able to mow without worrying about the fence line. One thing to keep in mind though, is to always change the lawn mower blades, when they get dull. Having sharp blades will naturally ensure perfectly trimmed grass.

Trimming the edges before mowing the lawn leaves cleaner lines. Using mulch or planting gardens around fence posts reduces grass growth. Using a gentle, line-fed trimmer helps keep the lawn looking evenly kept. Using these general tips helps maintain a beautiful yard without damaging the fence.