According to the Brussels-based firm Recovinyl, the recycling of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in the United Kingdom continues to increase and
is forecast to reach 50,000 metric tons by the end of 2011.
Jane Gardner of Axion Consulting, Recovinyl’s agent in the U.K., says more than 49,300 metric tons of post-consumer PVC were recycled in the U.K. in 2010 through 26 specialist recyclers.
The figures were presented during the Nov. 10, 2011, British Plastics Federation (BPF) PVC recycling seminar. During the seminar, Gardner said Recovinyl was positioned to build on its Vinyl 2010 achievements and to establish 2020 targets under its new Vinyl Plus voluntary commitment.
The updated targets include 800,000 metric tons of PVC to be reused throughout Europe by 2020, with 700,000 metric tons mechanically recycled and the rest processed using new technologies for more difficult-to-recycle or contaminated PVC.
“While these targets are ambitious, Recovinyl has demonstrated proven success under Vinyl 2010, particularly in the U.K., which, as a star performer, has contributed to 20 percent of overall EU PVC recycling so far,” Gardner said.
In 2010, 254,000 metric tons of PVC were recycled in Europe through Recovinyl—exceeding its original target amount of 200,000 metric tons.
Moving forward, Gardner said there would be a shift toward a “pull”market involving the existing recycling network and convertors, who will be encouraged to increase their use of recyclate in products. This is already happening with recycled PVC-U being used in new window profiles, reinforcements and fascia products, she continued. There will also be greater focus on the quality of recyclate produced and a move toward a certification process.
“Although a new program for Recovinyl to deliver these targets is still being finalized, the PVC industry continues to work with the value chain to achieve sustainability,” Gardner added. “Recovinyl has been a tremendous boost for the PVC industry in promoting the sustainability of PVC-U, which can be recycled many times without losing performance. Encouraging more companies to recycle, rather than landfill, their PVC waste has great economic and environmental benefits.”
Source : www.recyclingtoday.com
