The PA Recycling Markets Center, Inc. recently awarded Kettle Creek Corporation of Ottsville, Bucks County with the 2015 William M. Heenan, Jr. Recycling Markets Development Award for its commitment to recycling and innovation.

Managed by husband and wife team Philip and Bonnie Haas, Kettle Creek is a manufacturer of outdoor waste and recycling receptacles made entirely from recycled plastic and aluminum content, and produced in Pennsylvania.

(Photo: From left to right:  Robert J. Bylone, Jr., Executive Director, PRMC; Bonnie Haas, Phil Haas, Owners, Kettle Creek Corporation; Michele Nestor, Board Chair, PRMC.)

Philip Haas, who always held an interest in the environment, founded a recycling container business in 1983 in his Hamburg, Berks County home after designing some for Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, where he was working as an education coordinator.

Haas incorporated in 1992, selling containers with interesting designs and artistic graphics under the brand name Windsor Barrel Works.

At the time, the focus of recycling was on household or curbside programs, and less on indoor and outdoor public spaces. Haas believed that, if recycling and trash containers were more attractive and functional, people would be more encouraged to use them.

In 2012, his wife, Bonnie, took a more active role, becoming the company’s president, where she applied her decision-making skills learned as an intensive care nurse.

Today, containers from Kettle Creek's Warminster workshop and warehouse can be found throughout the U.S. and overseas in environments that include municipalities, museums, public parks and educational facilities.

“It’s an honor to recognize Kettle Creek with the William M. Heenan, Jr. Recycling Markets Development Award,” said Robert Bylone, RMC President & Executive Director. “This company not only creates a local Pennsylvania manufacturing economy through production of recycled content containers, but these containers are then used to hold recyclables which go back into their product.”

“We are truly honored to receive this award and be recognized by our peers in the recycling industry,” said Bonnie Haas. “Kettle Creek’s goal has always been to provide high quality, American-made recycling and waste bins, made from recycled materials. We are known for our customization capabilities and work on many unique projects – no detail is too small. One of the great benefits with our business is personally getting to know our customers and knowing how happy, satisfied and successful they’ve been in meeting their project goals with our products.”  

“The RMC is especially proud of Kettle Creek’s recent advances,” added Bylone, “which is prototyping Pennsylvania-recycled detergent bottles into new product designs, and pairing vendors RMC has recommended. We greatly look forward to continuing RMC involvement with Kettle Creek.”

For more information, visit the Windsor Barrel website or the company Facebook page.

The William M. Heenan, Jr. Recycling Markets Development Award is the only award if its type issued annually in Pennsylvania, and is named in memory of William M. “Bill” Heenan, Jr.

A lifelong international ambassador of the recycling industry, Bill was instrumental in supporting the Department of Environmental Protection to initially vision and fund inception of the RMC.

The 2015 award recipient was selected by a committee comprised of representatives from across the waste and recycling industries.

For more information on programs, services and activities, visit the PA Recycling Markets Center website.

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10/26/2015