Plastic picnic tables made with recycled planks are gaining in popularity due to their durability and easy maintenance

Plastic picnic tables are becoming more a part of the American landscape as managers begin to appreciate their attractive wood-like appearance, ruggedness and beneficial impact on the environment.

Recycled plastic picnic tables serve two purposes - one is to provide long-lasting, easy to clean and aesthetically pleasing site furniture for any outdoor location.

The second is to participate in the sustainability movement for planet Earth. That calls for reusing our resources, rather than depleting them.

According to Keep America Beautiful, by reusing materials we conserve the limited amount of raw materials available on the planet, reduce the ever-growing size of landfills, reduce pollution caused by the extraction of raw materials, save energy and create more jobs.

It's a win-win for any location.

Plastic picnic tables offer durability and style

Here's why:

Superior Quality:

Years ago when recycling manufacturing was first emerging, the number of products created was small and the quality was sub-standard.

But that's not the case now. In fact, using recycled materials is one of the best choices you can make today for commercial outdoor furniture

For one the products are not made out of flimsy plastic material like shopping bags, but the denser, heavy duty 02 HDPE polyethylene. That hardy material comes from water pipes, buckets, milk jugs, shampoo bottles, etc.

This type of plastic is known for its strength, stiffness, and resistance to gas and moisture. With those properties, it certainly seems a shame to throw this valuable material away and not reuse it.

The planks for plastic picnic tables now come in a variety of attractive colors

With recycled products made in the USA and the high standards of American manufacturers today, you can also be sure you are receiving recycled products that are made with 100% pure plastic scrap.

The recycled planks that now you see in plastic picnic tables and plastic benches are extremely durable and strong.

Unlike wood for example, those planks are also easy to maintain. Many times they can be wiped clean with just soap and water.

In addition, it is very difficult to deface plastic picnic tables. If people spray graffiti on the tables, they can generally be cleaned off easily with turpentine or a common paint remover. Paint does not adhere to the plastic. The surface is not permeable like wood.

Another advancement with plastic picnic tables is there is now a variety of appealing colors available for architects and landscape designers to choose from.

And those colors will keep their luster for years. How? When the plastic pellets are formed, a special additive is mixed in which makes those planks color-resistant to fading caused by the powerful ultraviolet rays from the sun.

Anybody who has left furniture outside for years knows, the sun can do some major damage. Wood literally deteriorates over time under UV rays.

In addition, extreme weather does a number on outdoor site furnishings. Heat, rain and snow combined with freezing temperatures can put outdoor furniture through a ringer as it expands and contracts.

With plastic picnic tables, you won't see any splintering or cracking due to the elements.

Mold and mildew also have a funny way of taking over any furniture that is placed outdoors. This is especially true with wooden picnic tables.

With recycled plastic picnic tables, there isn't any porous, organic surface that will accommodate microorganisms. It's all plastic.

These tables are so durable, in fact, that they generally come with very long-lasting warranties.

Aesthetically-Pleasing:

This brings us to the next advantage of plastic picnic tables for outdoor settings.

Appearance.

Sure, people want to help the environment, but they won't be too excited if they need to stick an ugly piece of recycled furniture on their grounds.

After all, what good is a picnic table if nobody uses it?

With advances in manufacturing for recycled plastic picnic tables, the new products on the market present a bright, colorful enhancement to any landscape.

For one, as we mentioned above, the recycled plastic planks are tough. The colored planks resist fading from harmful UV rays.

The plastic retains a vibrant, colorful and welcome appearance despite days spent outside in all sorts of weather.

Little effort is required to keep the tables maintained, clean and inviting for outdoor diners.

Next, along with advances in the quality of the manufacturing, there have also been strides made in aesthetics as well.

Architects and landscape designers are no longer stuck with the choice of just one or two colors.

Today some of the more appealing colors for planks and table tops include:

• Red
• Green
• White
• Black
• Blue
• Brown
• Cedar
• Grey

Many times, the understructure for plastic picnic tables is supported by a sturdy metal frame. There are even more colors available for metal products in either powder coated or thermoplastic finishes.

Some of the choices include:

• Yellow
• Blue
• Brown
• Black
• Green
• Red
• Purple
• White
• Burgundy

In fact, there can even be special orders for custom colors for the metal frames.

Adding recycled plastic picnic tables to your location shows your organization is environmentally conscious

As far as shapes, order recycled plastic picnic tables that are square, rectangular, hexagonal, with regular frames or pedestal frames. There are also many varieties available that offer wheelchair access to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Major differences when compared to wood picnic tables

When it comes to plastic picnic tables, there are more options available than with traditional wood picnic tables.

• Maintenance is much easier.
• There is no need to periodically sand and repaint these tables.
• It is much easier to remove graffiti, stains, and marks.
• The tables won't rot or become damaged by mold or mildew.
• There is no splintering or cracking.

People might prefer the old-fashioned look of a wood picnic table. With recycled plastic picnic tables, you get a product that resembles that traditional appearance, without the maintenance.

Here's the final point. Ordering products made with recycled plastic is essential because it completes the three-pronged loop you see in the recycling symbol.

Those three points represent - Collection, Manufacturing, and Reuse. What good is collecting all those empty milk jugs if the recycled plastic scrap is never used?

Environmental activist and actor Ed Begley Jr. summed it up well when he said: "If you are not buying recycled products, you're not really recycling."

In fact, these recycled plastic picnic tables and recycled plastic benches are gaining so much in popularity that manufacturers say there is actually a shortage of pure recycled plastic.

Americans have done an excellent job of recycling. According to the EPA, the amount of municipal solid waste that is recycled has now reached 35%. But there's obviously room for improvement.

The growth in the recycling industry is truly a success story. The process is an effective and proven way to make the Earth a sustainable place to live.

Next time you consider buying picnic tables, consider recycled plastic picnic tables  - your customers, your landscape and your fellow earthlings will thank you.