History
Our Story
Gerry Rains
Leaning on his past experience as a QC manager at a consumer health product manufacturer Gerry’s purpose was to establish a contract manufacturing company that assisted other businesses with their outsourcing needs.
Company founder Gerry Rains and wife Cherry, started Midway Manufacturing in 1982.
Manufacturing Starts
Midway won its first contract to manufacture degaussing coils for Tabuchi Electric Co. of Jackson, TN, who then sold their products to television manufacturers Sharp® and Sanyo®. These coils went into millions of televisions around the world.
Humble Beginnings
Living and working out of a small five room farmhouse that belonged to Cherry’s grandfather, Aldon Edwards. Cherry’s mother Eldridge Edwards loaned her truck for Midway’s first deliveries and was one of the first employees at the new company.
Midway Mfg. Moves to Gadsden, TN
As the company began to flourish, the need for additional space was necessary. Midway leased a 4,000 sqft space inside the retired Gadsden, TN High School building. It was there they started the assembly of typewriters, keyboards, microwaves, photo albums, office products, and expanded the manufacturing of degaussing coils. Sales that year exceeded $500,000.
Recycle Inc. is Incorporated.
In early 1989 Gerry Rains decided to move the company from Gadsden, TN to Bells, TN and built a new warehouse and manufacturing facility located alongside the newly constructed Hwy 412.
He formed the company Recycle Inc, to handle returns, including the sorting, inspecting and repacking for a variety manufacturers producing consumer products.
Aerosol Recycling Gets The Green Light
State of Tennessee approves Recycle Inc. methods of aerosol can recycling
Pioneering Aerosol Recovery
Recycle Inc. creates a new system that is leading the aerosol industry into its next phase -total recovery of aerosol products. The only system in the country that recycles aerosol products without generating hazardous waste.
Aerosol Line Expansion
Phase two is completed. A second aerosol recycling machine was built to expand and increase aerosol recycling production.
Discovery Channel Spotlight
This historic video was produced by the Discovery Channel network television show “Today’s Environment” in 1993 and is showcasing the recycling process at that time.
Recycling 100% of aerosol cans: Liquid, Propellant, Plastic, and Metal are all recovered and recycled for use.
Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award
Recycle Inc. wins the Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award – For helping its customer with Hazardous Waste Reduction of aerosol cans
Founder Gerry Rains
Founder Gerry Rains passed away in 1996, but his legacy lives on. To this day, Recycle Aerosol remains the leader in the aerosol waste industry due to his vision and leadership.
Cherry Rains
Wife Cherry Rains succeeds Gerry Rains as President and CEO of Recycle Inc.
Rebranding
Company name changed from Recycle Inc to Recycle Aerosol, LLC.
Governor’s Environmental Stewardship
2011 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award – Waste Reduction of Customer’s Aerosol Can Hazardous Waste
Rising Star Award
CEO Cherry Rains awarded the 2011 Rising Star Award on behalf of Governor Haslam TSBDC
Plant Expansion
In 2012, Recycle Aerosol finished construction on a new Aerosol Processing Facility. The new facility increases processing capacity to 270,000 cans a day, giving it the largest capacity in North America.
President Wins Rosie Award
Rosie Award winner in Environmental Management – Waste & Recycling News.
Rains Brothers
Adam and Noah Rains are named Co-CEO of Recycle Aerosol, LLC
Large Business of the Year
36th Annual Chamber of Commerce Membership & Awards Banquet
Pioneering Recycling Since 1989
Since 1989, Recycle Aerosol’s facility in Bells, Tennessee has gone on to recycle tens of millions of aerosol cans over the past 30 years. Reclaiming a variety of commercial and consumer aerosol and non-aerosol products that are deemed unsaleable and removed from the supply chain for a variety of reasons such as off-spec, out of date, damaged, or seasonally-packaged.