While in Troy on Monday, Bentley toured the Troy-Pike Center for Technology and KW operations.
First on the tour was Julia’s for lunch.
“I met every person there and the food was delicious,” he said.
Bentley was impressed with what he saw at Troy-Pike Center for Technology.
“The Governor has put a lot of emphasis on technical education and he wanted to see that being applied. He saw that at Pike County Technical School,” said state Rep. Alan Boothe R-Troy.
KW owner Kenny Campbell, toured the governor, accompanied by Boothe, and Sen. Jimmy Holley, R-Elba, through both KW Plastics Recycling Division and KW Container, the injection molding facility that makes the KW all-plastic paint cans.
Boothe and Holley were instrumental in passing a recycling bill during the recent legislative session. The bill, which the governor has signed, protects recycling and the 580 employees throughout the KW companies.
“Because of that bill, the governor expressed an interest in learning more about our recycling as both an environmental and economic solution,” said Stephanie Baker, director of market development for KW Plastics Recycling.
“We are thankful to have Rep. Boothe and Sen. Holley, who understand that recycling is truly an industry and a vital one to our community in terms of employment, tax revenue and utility usage,” she said. “It was a great opportunity to be able to share that with Gov. Bentley today.”
Bentley also talked about the importance of recycling as an industry and economic driver for the state. “If Alabamians recycled 10 percent more, it would create 1,400 new jobs for our state, a personal income of $66 million and mover $3 million in sales tax revenue,” he said during the tour.
KW Plastics is the world’s largest plastics recycler.