Latest news with #decking
Associated Press
17 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Trex Company Publishes 2024 Sustainability Report Highlighting How Circular Innovation Is Adding Value to the Business
WINCHESTER, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 30, 2025-- Trex Company, Inc. (NYSE:TREX), the world's leading manufacturer of high-performance, wood-alternative decking and railing, today announced the release of its 2024 Sustainability Report . The comprehensive report details the company's continued leadership in materials circularity, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility—core to Trex's identity since its founding more than 30 years ago. 'I am proud of how Trex has seamlessly integrated sustainability into our business—not as an add-on, but as a core strategy,' said Bryan Fairbanks, President and CEO of Trex Company. 'Our sustainability program is built into our distinctive brand, enhances resilience, and drives stronger returns for our shareholders. This makes sustainability a win-win for both our business and society at large.' The company's 2024 Sustainability Report charts progress across the board. Key points include: Commitment to Circularity: In 2024, Trex sourced over 1 billion pounds of reclaimed polyethylene (PE) film and wood scrap—including 377 million pounds of waste plastic, making Trex one of one of North America's largest recyclers of PE. In 2024, Trex sourced over 1 billion pounds of reclaimed polyethylene (PE) film and wood scrap—including 377 million pounds of waste plastic, making Trex one of one of North America's largest recyclers of PE. Innovative Products: Trex decking and railing products are designed for durability, aesthetic appeal, and long-lasting performance, with limited warranties of up to 50 years. Our Enhance deck boards, built and priced to compete directly with wood, come with a 25-year warranty—about twice the lifespan of typical wood decking in outdoor conditions. This extended longevity significantly reduces the need for replacements, lowering the environmental impact. Trex decking and railing products are designed for durability, aesthetic appeal, and long-lasting performance, with limited warranties of up to 50 years. Our Enhance deck boards, built and priced to compete directly with wood, come with a 25-year warranty—about twice the lifespan of typical wood decking in outdoor conditions. This extended longevity significantly reduces the need for replacements, lowering the environmental impact. Efficiency in Manufacturing: Trex maximized resource efficiency by recycling nearly 100% of its production scrap. Trex also recycled 31% of its general waste that would otherwise have gone to landfill. Trex maximized resource efficiency by recycling nearly 100% of its production scrap. Trex also recycled 31% of its general waste that would otherwise have gone to landfill. Creating Opportunity for Employees: Trex expanded its learning and development programs and increased employee engagement. In 2024 alone, employees benefited from over 62,000 hours of training. Trex expanded its learning and development programs and increased employee engagement. In 2024 alone, employees benefited from over 62,000 hours of training. External Recognition: Trex was recognized as a Green Builder® Sustainable Brand Leader, included in Barron's 2024 list of Top Sustainable Companies, and received the Greater Good Award for Large Business of the Year from The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber. The report also outlines forward-looking initiatives, including expanded end-of-life product recycling pilots and new sourcing strategies to build resilience amid growing demand for recycled materials. 'Sustainability has always been integral to who we are,' said Amy Fernandez, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer of Trex Company. 'Our 2024 report reflects our unwavering commitment to responsible growth, innovation, and continuous improvement.' The full 2024 Sustainability Report is available at . About Trex Company For more than 30 years, Trex Company (NYSE:TREX) has invented, reinvented and defined the composite decking category. Today, the Company is the world's #1 brand of sustainably made, wood-alternative decking and railing, and a leader in high performance, low-maintenance outdoor living products. Trex boasts the industry's strongest distribution network with products sold through more than 6,700 retail outlets across six continents. Through strategic licensing agreements, the Company offers a comprehensive outdoor living portfolio that includes deck drainage, flashing tapes, LED lighting, outdoor kitchen components, pergolas, spiral stairs, fencing, lattice, cornhole and outdoor furniture – all marketed under the Trex ® brand. Based in Winchester, Va., Trex earned top honors in this year's Environment + Energy (E+E) Leader Awards . Trex ® composite decking was not only named Product of the Year but also the Judges' Choice Winner as the top-scoring entry in the Consumer + Residential category. Trex is proud to have been named America's Most Trusted ® Outdoor Decking * 5 Years in a Row (2021-2025). The Company was also included on the Barron's list of the 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies (2024 and 2025), named one of America's Most Responsible Companies 2024 by Newsweek and ranked as one of the 100 Best ESG Companies by Investor's Business Daily. For more information, visit . You may also follow Trex on Facebook (trexcompany), Instagram (trexcompany), X (Trex_Company), LinkedIn (trex-company), TikTok (trexcompany), Pinterest (trexcompany) and Houzz (trex-company-inc), or view product and demonstration videos on the brand's YouTube channel (TheTrexCo). * 2021-2025 DISCLAIMER: Trex received the highest numerical score in the proprietary Lifestory Research 2021-2025 America's Most Trusted® Outdoor Decking studies. Study results are based on the experiences and perceptions of people surveyed. Your experiences may vary. Visit . View source version on CONTACT: Media Contact: Allison Kurtz L.C. Williams & Associates (312) 565-3900 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA VIRGINIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ARCHITECTURE RECYCLING MANUFACTURING OTHER CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY OTHER MANUFACTURING GREEN TECHNOLOGY LANDSCAPE SOURCE: Trex Company, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/30/2025 11:45 AM/DISC: 06/30/2025 11:45 AM
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Spruce up your bland decking this summer with Lidl's £11.99 middle aisle gadget – & it's £55 cheaper than B&Q's version
LIDL has launched an £11.99 gadget that's perfect for giving your decking a spruce up this summer - and it's £55 cheaper than Lidl's version. With the temperatures set to soar again this weekend, many Brits are likely planning on spending as much time as possible in the garden. 3 However, if you have plans to invite friends and family over to soak up the sun, you may want to give your decking a glow up. Lidl Cordless Rotary Tool Although getting tradesman in to to the job can be incredibly pricey, Lidl's Parkside 4V Cordless Rotary Tool is perfect for doing some garden DIY. The bargain buy lands in stores today, Thursday, June 26 and is perfect for routing, grinding, polishing, cleaning and engraving. It has an adjustable power speed with an LED display and comes with an abundance of accessories, including three polishing wheels, four sanding sleeves and one threaded mandrel. The nifty gadget has a maximum rotation speed of 25,000rpm and a maximum disc diameter of 38.1mm. The bargain bit of kit will be located in the middle aisle of your local Lidl, however, you better grab yours quick, as all Middle of Lidl bargains are only available while stocks last. Cheaper than B&Q The budget tool is a whopping £55 cheaper than the Dremel Cordless Lite Rotary tool 3.6V which is currently on sale at B&Q for £67. Like the cheaper version of the product, the B&Q buy also comes with a variety of accessories and can also be charged via USB. DIY fans will also be pleased to know that Lidl has launched a £4.99 toolkit that will save you hundreds on buying a new phone. More Middle Aisle Bargains The Parkside Smartphone Repair Set comes with 32 pieces, including screwdrivers and suction cups, to help you take apart your smartphone, and fix it yourself. My garden was looking so old and the patio was broken - now it's a lush oasis and people can't believe how little I spent The kit can be used to fix any smartphone including Apple and Samsung devices, and can also be used to fix laptop and tablet screens as well. Anyone who has been struggling to sleep in the extreme heat will be pleased to know that Livarno Home Double TopCool Duvet has landed in Lidl stores just in time for the heatwave. Designed to keep you cool and comfy, the £10.99 duvet features a micro-fine cover that cleverly regulates moisture and body temperature. It's ideal for double beds, with a soft and fluffy polyester filling that still feels cosy without the stifling heat. Why do Aldi and Lidl have such fast checkouts IF you've ever shopped in Aldi or Lidl then you'll probably have experienced its ultra-fast checkout staff. Aldi's speedy reputation is no mistake, in fact, the supermarket claims that its tills are 40 per cent quicker than rivals. It's all part of Aldi's plan to be as efficient as possible - and this, the budget shop claims, helps keep costs low for shoppers. Efficient barcodes on packaging means staff are able to scan items as quickly as possible, with the majority of products having multiple barcodes to speed up the process. It also uses 'shelf-ready' packaging which keeps costs low when it comes to replenishing stock. The bargain supermarket is also selling a Peppa Pig Kids' Ride-On Suitcase this summer. Kids can be pulled along, ride, and play with this major branded suitcase – perfect for keeping them entertained at the airport. The case has been described as sturdy and comes with a lockable closure. The interior includes an extra pocket for added storage and a cross-strap to keep items secure. Shoppers picking up the £25 case will be pleased to know it comes with a three-year warranty.
The Sun
6 days ago
- General
- The Sun
I went to war with council over ‘illegal' garden deck & WON thanks to Google Earth – they didn't have a leg to stand on
A HOMEOWNER has won an ongoing row with the council over his decking, thanks to Google Earth. Gareth Leek, 58, was left stunned after planning officials claimed he needed retrospective permission for a garden decking that had been in place for eight years. 6 6 6 According to councillors, the raised grey and white platform stood too tall at 83cm high, which is half a metre over the limit requiring planning permission. But, instead of backing down, Mr Leek, who lives in Pontypool, Gwent, took to Google Earth to save his beloved decking. If an unauthorised extension has been in place for more than four years without enforcement action you may legally be allowed to keep it. The aerial snap provided by the app showed the decking firmly in place in June 2018. This proof that it had been there for eight years meant that Mr Leek should legally be allowed to keep it. He was also backed up by a neighbour who claimed the decking was in place in the garden since at least 2019. A planning hearing heard Mr Leek had retrospectively applied for a certificate of lawful development. According to the MaileOnline, planning officer Simon Pritchard acknowledged the evidence presented by Mr Leek, which came complete with a Google Earth aerial image from June 2018. Mr Pritchard said the council had no evidence or reason to doubt that the decking had not been 'substantially completed for less than four years' and Mr Leek was told he could keep it. This also isn't the first time technology has been used as evidence in planning rows. In 2023, Dorset Council used Google Earth to prove that a resident had illegally built a decking and an extension. Satellite photos were able to prove that Colin Thomas's claims that his decking had existed for more than four years, were false. As a result, Mr Thomas now faces the prospect of demolishing his rear extension and raised decking. Earlier this month, Oldham Council also rejected a retrospective planning application over a porch extension that left neighbours in uproar. While Mr Leek's neighbor seemed to come out in support, The Khanom family faced backlash from the community and a £2,000 fine from the council for building a porch that locals claim resembled the Trafford centre. 6 6 6 A Gloucester businessman was also locked in a bitter row with developers earlier this year, over a two brick high wall which he insisted belonged to him. Roger White, 58, went head to head with the developers of a new housing estate in April, after they revealed plans to knock down the wall to create an emergency access route, required in their planning permission. With both parties declaring ownership, White has been left feeling as if they want to 'bulldoze' the wall that he claims he inherited from his father in 1997. What are your rights in this situation? If the council refuse planning permission you can appeal their decision. Appeals can take several months to be decided. You can only appeal against a decision if the LPA: Refuses your application Grants permission but with conditions you object to Refuses to change or remove a condition of planning permission that has been granted with conditions Refuses to approve something reserved under an 'outline permission' – planning permission for a general idea, not of a specific plan Refuses to approve something that you were told to build by your LPA as part of a previous planning permission – the current development was one of the 'conditions' stated in the previous planning permission Does not make a decision on the application within the deadline and does not get your written consent to change the deadline serves you with an enforcement notice because it thinks you have broken planning permission and you do not agree
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Homeowner uses Google Earth to prove he can keep his garden decking
A homeowner who was told the decking in his garden was too high has won his battle with planners by using Google Earth to prove his case. Gareth Leek, 58, was told he needed planning permission for the decking at his home in Pontypool, Gwent, Wales – despite it being built eight years ago. Planning officials told Leek that the decking, that sits 83cm off the ground, was half a metre over the height that required building permission from the council. But rather than simply accepting the decision, Leek went on Google Earth and obtained satellite images that showed the decking had been in place for four years without any challenge. A neighbour also supported Leek, telling officials that the decking – which is 4.84m wide and 3.82m long –had been in place in the garden since at least 2019. A planning hearing heard Leek had retrospectively applied for a certificate of lawful development and he was legally allowed to stop the grey and white decking from being ripped out. Planning officer Simon Pritchard acknowledged the evidence presented by Leek, which included a Google Earth aerial image from June 2018. Pritchard said the council had no evidence or reason to doubt that the decking had not been 'substantially completed for less than four years'. His report confirmed Leek's application to keep his smart decking is now immune from enforcement action. Installing decking in your garden often falls under permitted development, meaning planning permission is typically not required if specific conditions are met. According to guidance from the Planning Portal, decking can proceed without permission if it is no more than 30cm above ground level and, combined with other extensions or outbuildings, covers less than 50% of the garden area. The decking must also not be positioned forward of the principal elevation of the house, typically the front wall facing a road. However, planning permission is necessary in certain cases. If the decking exceeds 30cm in height or covers more than 50% of the garden, an application is needed. Additionally, if the decking is within 20 metres of a highway or impacts neighbours' privacy, such as by enabling overlooking, permission is required. To apply for planning permission, people must submit an application through the Planning Portal website or contact your local planning authority directly. The process requires detailed plans, including measurements and the decking's location on your property, along with an assessment of its impact on the local environment and neighbouring properties. Applications typically take up to eight weeks to process and may involve a fee, around £200. Consulting with neighbours beforehand can help address concerns – their objections could influence the final decision so this is an important step. Click below to see the latest Wales headlines
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Homeowner wins planning row with council over his 'rule-breaking garden decking' - after taking to Google Earth for help
A homeowner has won a planning battle with his council after he was told the platform was too high and that he needed planning permission - with help from Google Earth. Gareth Leek, 58, was left stunned when planning officials claimed his beloved garden decking was too tall and needed retrospective permission, despite it being in place for eight years. Council busybodies argued the raised grey-and-white platform in his Pontypool, Gwent, garden stood 83cm high. This is a whole half a metre over the limit requiring planning permission. But Mr Leek wasn't about to let his pride-and-joy be torn up without a fight. Instead of backing down, he went high-tech, digging out satellite images from Google Earth to prove the decking had been there for over four years, meaning he should legally be allowed to keep it. The decksaving aerial snap, dated June 2018, showed the decking firmly in place. His decking 4.84m wide and 3.82m long was saved in his garden in Pontypool, Gwent. He was also backed up by a neighbour supporting him keeping the decking, saying it was in place in the garden since at least 2019. A planning hearing heard Mr Leek had retrospectively applied for a certificate of lawful development. Planning officer Simon Pritchard acknowledged the evidence presented by Mr Leek, which included a Google Earth aerial image from June 2018. Mr Pritchard said the council had no evidence or reason to doubt that the decking had not been 'substantially completed for less than four years'. Mr Pritchard's report confirmed his application to keep his smart decking is now immune from enforcement action, and he can keep it. It's not the first time the technology has been used in evidence in planning rows. In 2023, a homeowner was told he had to tear down his decking and extension after council officials used Google Earth to prove that he built them illegally. Colin Thomas, 65, tried to use a loophole in planning law to keep the two structures at the front and rear of his terraced house in Portland, Dorset. He 'solemnly and sincerely declared' that the raised decking in the front of his house and the single-storey extension at the rear existed for more than four years - making it exempt from council planner's bids to remove them. Mr Thomas alleged that the 20ft by 16ft raised decking and rear extension had built soon after he bought the property in 2012, a claim that was backed by his builder and friends. But Google Earth and Street View satellite photographs taken in September 2020 have revealed that the rear extension and decking were not present three years ago. Officials have now determined he had not obtained planning permission for the works and wrongly thought they came under permitted development rights for homeowners. Mr Thomas applied to the local council to make both structures lawful under the rule that recognises any changes to a property that have been in place for four years are exempt from enforcement action. As a result Dorset Council refused Mr Thomas's application and he now faces the prospect of demolishing both the rear extension and the raised decking. Planning officer Thomas Wild, who had looked up the property on Google Earth and Google Street view, concluded: ' does allow for a conclusion that the rear extension was constructed between September 2020 and June 2022. 'Therefore it has been present for less than four years and has not achieved immunity from enforcement action on that basis.' With regards to the raised deck at the front of the house, Mr Wild found the structure was there in Google photos taken in 2016 and 2021. But he found this was a different decking to the one that stands today. He said the original decking was timber but the present structure is made from composite boards that have been topped with artificial grass. He also worked out that the replacement decking was bigger than the original. Mr Wild said that although it was 'accepted that by around 2016 the original timber decking had become immune from enforcement action, that immunity was lost when the decking was removed'. He added: 'The construction of the decking are fresh breaches of planning control which do not benefit from previously accrued immunity.' A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: 'The evidence available from Google Street View images indicates that the decking currently on the site is different from the decking constructed in 2012, which the council accepts did achieve immunity from enforcement, but which was subsequently removed. 'The new decking is larger, with a different design, incorporating a garage underneath it and is therefore considered to be a new breach of planning control.
