—Environmental Initiative Should Save Thousands More Trees, Decrease Landfill
Use—
HICKORY, NC, April 21, 2008—In a drive to build upon its ongoing environmental
initiatives, CommScope, Inc. is expanding its cable reel recycling program to
customers of Andrew Wireless Solutions, the company’s division that is a global
leader in communications systems and products.
The Andrew Reel Recycling Program is an effort to reduce the waste of reels
on which Andrew’s HELIAX® cables are shipped. CommScope launched its own
ReelSmart® recycling program in 1988 for its broadband and wireless cable
reels, and today recycles more than 66,000 reels per year, saving approximately
20,000 trees annually. The North Carolina-based company has twice won the Governor’s
Award of Excellence in the large business waste reduction category.
“We expect the Reel Recycling Program to drive a higher level of participation
and have a far greater environmental impact than the smaller scale reel recovery
program Andrew previously had in place,” said Stan Catey, group vice president
and general manager, Cable Products, Andrew. “We are very excited to leverage
CommScope’s prior experience in making this program a noteworthy success for
customers, ourselves, and the global environment.”
The Andrew program will be launched in the U.S. and Western Europe this year.
It currently is available in Spain, with the U.S. rollout set for June, to be
followed by additional European nations later in the year. Andrew hopes to recycle
more than 15,000 reels in the continental U.S. alone during the first year of
the Reel Recycling Program.
To encourage participation, Andrew has begun charging customers for reels
used for shipping HELIAX cables. These charges will be partially or completely
reimbursed to customers who participate in the Reel Recycling Program, depending
on the condition of the reels when returned. Reels returned in excellent condition
may even be awarded reimbursement above the initial charge. Cable reels, made
of mostly high grade wood, are used in shipping and storing transmission line
cables, with sizes ranging as large as 3.5 meters in diameter.
Andrew’s wireless cable customers will realize additional benefits besides
environmental goodwill. In the absence of recycling programs, cable installers
usually break down the wooden reels and either burn or dispose of them in landfills.
By participating in the Reel Recycling Program, time and labor is reduced as
installers no longer need perform this function. In addition, customers can
avoid being additionally charged for reel disposal or landfill fees by local
waste management firms. Andrew expects to establish five recycling centers across
the U.S. to which cable reels can be returned.
CommScope has been an active and long-time participant in environmental efforts.
It joined more than 200 U.S. companies in pledging to rationalize energy consumption
and waste as part of the 1992 Energy Policy Act. The company also began voluntarily
reporting greenhouse gas emissions in 2002 as part of the Global Climate Change
Initiative.
END
HELIAX and ReelSmart are registered trademarks of CommScope, Inc.
About CommScope
CommScope, Inc. (NYSE: CTV – www.commscope.com) is a world leader in infrastructure
solutions for communication networks. Through its Andrew Wireless Solutions™
brand, it is a global leader in radio frequency subsystem solutions for wireless
networks. Through its SYSTIMAX® and Uniprise® brands, CommScope is a
world leader in network infrastructure solutions, delivering a complete end-to-end
physical layer solution, including cables and connectivity, enclosures, intelligent
software and network design services for business enterprise applications. It
is also the premier manufacturer of coaxial cable for broadband cable television
networks and one of the leading North American providers of environmentally
secure cabinets for DSL and FTTN applications. Backed by strong research and
development, CommScope combines technical expertise and proprietary technology
with global manufacturing capability to provide customers with infrastructure
solutions for evolving global communications networks in more than 130 countries
around the world.
News Media Contact Rick Aspan, CommScope +1 708-236-6568 or publicrelations@commscope.com
Investor Contact Phil Armstrong, CommScope +1 828-323-4848
This press release includes forward-looking statements that are based on
information currently available to management, management’s beliefs, as well
as on a number of assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking
statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of
uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results to differ
materially from those currently expected. For a more detailed description
of the factors that could cause such a difference, please see CommScope’s filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In providing forward-looking
statements, the company does not intend, and is not undertaking any obligation
or duty, to update these statements as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
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