ARW Polywood

Lumber from 100% recycled plastic has been around for several years now. Due to the large number of companies making recycled plastic lumber (currently about 22 in the U.S.), and the range of processes and feedstocks used, product quality varies greatly. ARW Polywood comes strongly recommended by contractors who’ve used it.

According to Dixie Jo Staley, Sales Manager for the company, ARW Polywood’s plastic lumber products have two advantages over most others: careful quality control of the feedstock, and a die extrusion fabrication process, instead of the more common injection molding process. While variability of physical properties has made it difficult for plastic lumber products in general to get code approvals, ARW Polywood has been HUD-approved in California for use as a base for mobile homes, according to Staley. Playworld Systems, a large playground manufacturer, recently tested several different plastic lumber products for use in their playgrounds. Ted Grove, Technical Services Manager for Playworld, was very impressed with ARW Polywood. “They’ve made a lot of improvements just in the last year,” he says. While he had steel pipe inserted in the 6x6 posts of the first Polywood playground they did, he says that he now has the confidence to use the plastic without such reinforcement. They are currently using the material for on several more playgrounds for the Lever Brothers.