Document ZnNgg2O9NDe4yQw82o4ga2rmV

l-'oi more information about the recyclability of PVC or its role in the solid waste stream, contact: The Vinyl Institute Wayne Interchange Plaza II 155 Route 46 West Wayne, NJ 07470 (201) 890-9299 Members Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. liordcn Chemicals and Plastics C'crlamTccd Corporation The Dow Chemical Company Georgia Gulf Corporation The HPGoodrich Company Occidental Chemical Corporation PPG Industries, Inc. Vista Chemical Company Associate Members Huiopcnn Vinyls Corporation Vinyl Council of Canada Affiliate Members lloig Warner Chemicals, Inc. Knncha Texas Corporation l.ucidol Division, Pcnnwalt Corporation MiVcT Chemicals Inc. Kolim and Haas Company Wilco Corporation CTL016571 VINYL. IT'S RECYCLABLE. CTL016572 (CjjOKX. I he Vinyl insitiulc VINYL: Part of the Recycling Solution Recovering PVC Packaging from the Solid Waste Stream The Vinyl Institute CTL016567 Like all types ofplastic packaging, PVC (poly vinyl chloride, or vinyl) packaging is used to help retain product freshness, improve prod uct safety and increase consumer convenience. Thanks to packaging products like vinyl, con tainers are lighter weight and shatter-resistant, and conveniences like blister packaging of single-dose medicines and pour spoutsfor vegetable oils are possible. PVC also is one of the most environmentally sound materials in existence. It is an inert, stable material that can be landfilled safely. It can be processed as safely as any other A material in incinerators, and it is eminently " recyclable. Here are somefacts about the role that vinyl packaging can play in reducing solid waste totals via recycling. PVC Is a Small, but Recoverable, . Portion of the Waste Stream Currently, vinyl packaging constitutes only about 5% of all plastics used in packaging. Plastic pack aging in turn, represents only about 3-5% of all materials found in the solid waste stream. As a re sult, only about two to three-tenths of one percent of the waste stream actually is composed of PVC packaging, but much of this quantity is suitable for recycling. PVC Has a Proven Record of Recyclability One of the first recycling programs for PVC was undertaken in Europe several years ago. There, | vinyl containers used for bottled water were col lected and reprocessed into electrical wire sheathing. CTL016568 Today, in Europe, recycled PVC bottles arc being converted into such items as profile extrusions and coextrudcd foam core pipe. In the United States, several enterprises have begun collecting one-time use and short-term use vinyl products and recycling them into drain pipe and wood-substitute products. In addition, a number of pilot programs currently are underway in this country that have been de signed specifically to demonstrate the feasibility of collecting and recycling post-consumer vinyl bottles. Early results have revealed no technical barriers to full-scale programs. PVC Poses No Unusual Problems In Source Separation Clear vinyl bottles destined for recycling easily can be separated out of the waste stream via visual inspection because of their glass-like clarity and gloss and distinctive mold mark. Opaque vinyl bottles or composite plastic bottles that contain PVC can be included in any mixed plastics rec lamation program. The vinyl industry also sup ports a new voluntary container coding system developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry that facilitates container identification and separation. PVC Works In Commingled Programs The Center for Plasties Recycling Research at Rutgers University and the Plasties Recycling Applied Research Institute (an industry, university and government cooperative program in Mas sachusetts) both have established programs to evaluate the feasibility of recycling mixed - or commingled - plastics. Results of these programs indicate that vinyl products can be incorporated into commingled feedstocks without affecting the ^^cssability or durability of the finished product. CTL016569 PVC Is Easily Processed for Reuse Vinyl packaging that has been collected loi iccycling is no more difficult to process than any othci type of plastic. Once caps have been removed, the vinyl containers simply are detergent washed and put through a chopper or grinder. The dried regrmd is ready for use in a number of applications and can be extruded or molded using standard thermoplas tic processing equipment. PVC Recycling Markets Already Exist Research indicates that a ready market for recycled vinyl already exists among some of the largest vol ume. longest established applications foi I'VC. Re cycled vinyl already is being used to manufacture large diameter drainage pipe, for instance PVC Is a Long-Term Recycling Solution Drainage pipe made from recycled vinyl anil woodsubstitute products like landscape timbers made from commingled vinyl are long-term, durable ap plications that will not reappear in the waste stieam for many years. In addition, the use of I'VC' in products like these helps to conserve othci valuable resources such as wood and iron ore. CTL01657o