JN Phillips Diverts More Than One Million Pounds of Glass and Plastic from Landfills with GreenShield(SM) Windshield Recycling Program

WOBURN, Mass., April 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- JN Phillips Auto Glass announced today that, as a result of its "GreenShield(SM)" program, more than one million pounds of glass and plastic have been successfully recycled and kept from ending up in landfills. Launched in November 2010, GreenShield is JN Phillips' commitment to responsibly recycle 100 percent of the windshields the company replaces. GreenShield is the first large-scale effort by any retailer/installer to recycle and reduce the impact of consumer windshields at the end of their useful lives.

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"Consumers today are very conscious of how their actions -- and those of the companies with which they do business -- affect the environment," said Robert Rosenfield, President of JN Phillips. "And that has certainly been the case with GreenShield. Customer response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive, with many customers requesting JN Phillips by name because they heard we will recycle their old windshield."

GreenShield is the result of two years of research and development by JN Phillips to determine the optimal solution to efficient windshield recycling. Upon removal, windshields are collected at JN Phillips locations across New England. The material is sent to a central location and bulk-shipped to JN Phillips' recycling partner for processing. The windshields are then pulverized and sent through a special process to separate the glass from the plastic material, polyvinyl butyral (PVB). Upon final processing, the PVB plastic can be used in various industrial adhesive applications. The processed glass material -- often called "glass cullet" -- is less costly than raw materials and has numerous applications, including fiberglass insulation and even concrete.

Based on its average annual replacement volume, JN Phillips anticipates it will save approximately five million pounds of glass and plastic from landfills each year.

The GreenShield program has even drawn recognition from hometown sports team the Boston Celtics. On April 3, 2011, JN Phillips and GreenShield partners Electric Insurance Company, E.L. Harvey & Sons, Inc., and MassRecycle were recognized by the Celtics as part of the NBA's Green Week for their combined contributions to the GreenShield effort.

Electric Insurance, a national leading provider of personal and commercial lines insurance products, was the first insurance company to pledge support by informing policyholders about the GreenShield recycling option. Prominent New England waste hauler and recycler E.L. Harvey performs a great majority of the glass hauling for the GreenShield program. And MassRecycle is a statewide coalition of individuals, companies and non-profit organizations dedicated to promoting the vital environmental, social and economic benefits created by reducing, reusing and recycling waste materials, and by increasing the utilization of recycled products.

About JN Phillips Auto Glass

JN Phillips is New England's largest auto glass company with 40 locations and a fleet of more than 140 mobile service vans. Founded in 1946, JN Phillips continues its focus on being the most knowledgeable and experienced windshield repair and replacement company in the region. The result is a strong reputation for service and innovation. For more information, please visit www.jnphillips.com or call 877-AUTOGLASS.

SOURCE JN Phillips Auto Glass