ELKHART COUNTY — You've likely heard all about using recyclable materials to make houses, cars and food containers. Now some local RV manufacturers are becoming more environmentally friendly. Last year alone, RV companies in Elkhart County turned more than 2,000,000 pounds of landfill waste into new products.

When the manufacturers cut windows and doors from the sides of RVs, they used to throw the scrap pieces away. Now they stack them on skids and send them to Nappanee Window, Inc.

That's where employees work to recycle the scraps into compartment doors for the outside of RVs.

"We didn't set out to be environmental pioneers, that wasn't our goal," explained Nappanee Window Marketing Director Josh Kanagy. "By capturing this waste and reusing a lot of the material, it helps lower the cost of the customer for the finished product they buy from us. And it makes everyone more profitable, which is what we're all in business for."

Nappanee Window, formerly Nappanee RV Components, recently won awards from Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) for their recycling efforts. The company is now awarding its 14 partner manufacturers.