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October 26. 2012 7:53PM
E. Butterworth & Co., recycles 20 million lbs. of textile waste each year and Jeff Pearl vice president of the company, says it turns tons of that waste into wiping rags. (Courtesy Photos)
About 20 million lbs. of textile waste is recycled annually by E. Butterworth & Co., which recently expanded to Hudson, NH last summer. The Hudson facility will turn piles of textiles into compressed bales. (Courtesy)
E. Butterworth & Co., which had been headquartered in Massachusetts for years, has expanded to Hudson, NH. The company, one of the oldest textile waste recyclers in the country, is owned by Bob Travis, son Ryan, and son-in-law Jeff Pearl, right. (Courtesy)
Textile recycler now calls NH home
E. Butterworth & Co., recycles 20 million lbs. of textile waste each year and Jeff Pearl vice president of the company, says it turns tons of that waste into wiping rags. (Courtesy Photos)
About 20 million lbs. of textile waste is recycled annually by E. Butterworth & Co., which recently expanded to Hudson, NH last summer. The Hudson facility will turn piles of textiles into compressed bales. (Courtesy)
E. Butterworth & Co., which had been headquartered in Massachusetts for years, has expanded to Hudson, NH. The company, one of the oldest textile waste recyclers in the country, is owned by Bob Travis, son Ryan, and son-in-law Jeff Pearl, right. (Courtesy)
HUDSON — One of the world's oldest textile recyclers has expanded operations to New Hampshire after outgrowing its facility in Massachusetts.
E. Butterworth & Co., founded in 1839 and headquartered in Dracut, Mass., recycles 20 million pounds of textile waste each year, while processing some pieces into cleaning cloths.
“About two years ago, we had run out of room in Massachusetts,” said EBCO President Bob Travis who, with son Ryan and son-in-law Jeff Pearl, is an owner. “We're all residents of New Hampshire, we like living in New Hampshire, and we like the business climate here.”
Travis has lived in Litchfield for more than 30 years. His son, Ryan, lives in Manchester.
Last spring, the company expanded into the Sagamore Industrial Park in Hudson. The Dracut location serves as a warehouse for Hudson.
“We need twice as much space already,” Travis said.
The Hudson facility packages wiping cloths manufactured by the company and is capable of transforming 1,000-pound bales into people-friendly 5- and 10-pound packages for consumer and industrial use, Travis said.
Clippings made of 100 percent cotton are set aside for another purpose.
“We sell it to a pulp mill in Ohio, and they turn it into a nice, white cotton pulp that's turned into U.S. currency,” Travis said.
After experiencing substantial growth over the last two years, Travis projects continued growth this year. The company, which employs about 25 people, added roughly 12 positions since the expansion, Travis said.
He intends to sell the Dracut building within a year and move the entire operation to a larger location in Hudson.
EBCO recycles textiles and reclaims textile waste from manufacturers around the country, keeping it out of landfills. That is especially important, said co-owner Jeff Pearl, because “it is one of the most pesticide-dependent crops in the world, and repurposing every piece definitely helps the environment.”
Larger pieces of material are turned into cleaning clothes for janitorial and industrial uses, as well as in manufacturing. The company ships to every state this side of the Mississippi, Travis said.
“You can go into almost any hardware store in New Hampshire and see our products on the shelf,” Travis said.
Travis said he likes going home at the end of the day knowing that he's done something good to help the environment, he said.
With the family and the business rooted firmly in New Hampshire, Travis plans to continue growing the company.
“I feel very fortunate,” Travis said. “We have terrific people, we have great ideas and superior management, and it's working.”
jhanson@newstote.com
E. Butterworth & Co., founded in 1839 and headquartered in Dracut, Mass., recycles 20 million pounds of textile waste each year, while processing some pieces into cleaning cloths.
“About two years ago, we had run out of room in Massachusetts,” said EBCO President Bob Travis who, with son Ryan and son-in-law Jeff Pearl, is an owner. “We're all residents of New Hampshire, we like living in New Hampshire, and we like the business climate here.”
Travis has lived in Litchfield for more than 30 years. His son, Ryan, lives in Manchester.
Last spring, the company expanded into the Sagamore Industrial Park in Hudson. The Dracut location serves as a warehouse for Hudson.
“We need twice as much space already,” Travis said.
The Hudson facility packages wiping cloths manufactured by the company and is capable of transforming 1,000-pound bales into people-friendly 5- and 10-pound packages for consumer and industrial use, Travis said.
Clippings made of 100 percent cotton are set aside for another purpose.
“We sell it to a pulp mill in Ohio, and they turn it into a nice, white cotton pulp that's turned into U.S. currency,” Travis said.
After experiencing substantial growth over the last two years, Travis projects continued growth this year. The company, which employs about 25 people, added roughly 12 positions since the expansion, Travis said.
He intends to sell the Dracut building within a year and move the entire operation to a larger location in Hudson.
EBCO recycles textiles and reclaims textile waste from manufacturers around the country, keeping it out of landfills. That is especially important, said co-owner Jeff Pearl, because “it is one of the most pesticide-dependent crops in the world, and repurposing every piece definitely helps the environment.”
Larger pieces of material are turned into cleaning clothes for janitorial and industrial uses, as well as in manufacturing. The company ships to every state this side of the Mississippi, Travis said.
“You can go into almost any hardware store in New Hampshire and see our products on the shelf,” Travis said.
Travis said he likes going home at the end of the day knowing that he's done something good to help the environment, he said.
With the family and the business rooted firmly in New Hampshire, Travis plans to continue growing the company.
“I feel very fortunate,” Travis said. “We have terrific people, we have great ideas and superior management, and it's working.”
jhanson@newstote.com
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