RECYCLING PVC RESULTS IN FAR REACHING POSITIVE EFFECTS
Even with an increase in recycling programs, landfills are on the rise. Not only are they taking up precious space, but they are also costing more than ever before. It is in times like these that a greater emphasis must be placed on developing efficient and cost-effective recycling programs across a wide range of industries. By recycling high-quality, long lasting material, companies across the nation can help diminish the reliance on costly landfills.
At Presco, we managed to develop a plan for our manufacturing process that does exactly that. We heavily recycle previously used polyvinyl chloride, better known as PVC or vinyl, into our products. By doing this, we are developing durable and high quality material while also helping to protect our world for future generations.
PVC is the perfect material for a high-volume recycling program. It is inexpensive to make and has a long lifespan. In fact, products made from PVC can be relied upon for over sixty years. The process of recycling these compounds allows for 100 percent of the recycled material to be used and, due to the intense processes used to remove any impurities, there is no loss in structural integrity.
There are two ways to achieve this. The first is a process known as mechanical recycling. This method grinds PVC waste into very small pieces, which keeps the compounds chemically intact but allows them to be melted and reformed into new products. The second process is called feedstock recycling. In this, PVC waste is broken down into its separate chemical molecules (chlorine and carbon) and is then either reformed into PVC or integrated into other materials.
These methods, particularly mechanical recycling, have allowed Presco to recycle 95 percent of our internally rejected parts back into our product lines. There is no reason to waste good material simply because the part itself is faulty. Because of this, we have managed to recycle over 5 million pounds of vinyl film over the last five years on select formulations in our Pres-Flex vinyl product line. That’s 5 million pounds that have been put to good use rather than take up space in a landfill. And, by reducing our raw materials cost we were able to offer our products at lower costs to our customers.
Presco is dedicated to having a high percentage of recycled material in our vinyl products in order to bring about positive change in our industry. We also place quite a bit of importance on educating our customers and partners on the multitude of resources available to help improve their PVC recycling efforts. To learn more about Presco or our commitment to reducing the levels of PVC in landfills, visit us today http://www.pres-flex.com/capabilities/internal-and-external-scrap-consumption-programs/ .
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[i] https://nrra.net/sweep/cost-to-landfill-waste-continues-to-rise-through-2016/
