U.K. To Try PVC Recycling Effort

In the United States, the recycling of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic is rare, with PVC siding scrap at construction, remodeling and demolition sites heading directly to the landfill.

An initiative in Europe, however, will attempt to boost the recyclability of the material.

According to U.K.-based Web site www.letsrecycle.com, the European vinyl industry is offering financial incentives to waste and recycling companies to recycle PVC siding in particular.

Under an initiative name known as Recovinyl, the funding of methods to recycle products including siding, windows, pipes, rainwater goods and conduits will be offered.

The Recovinyl effort is funded by a Europe-wide industry trade group known as Vinyl 2010. In the U.K., the Recovinyl effort is being supported by the British Plastics Federation, which has appointed Axion Recycling Ltd., Ealing, U.K., as project managers and technical advisors.

According to Recovinyl, PVC recycling is currently being carried out during the manufacturing process for new products, where 95 percent of such scrap is recycled.

But vinyl scrap generated at construction and demolition sites will now be targeted by the Recovinyl program.

Those wishing to take part in the program will need to register as members of Recovinyl and then deliver its PVC scrap to a Recovinyl-designated PVC recycling companies.

More information on the U.K. program is available at the Recovinyl Web site at www.recovinyl.com.