The key to a circular economy is designing products to last.
Plastic pipes have transformed the way we live.
The majority of PVC resin imported into Australia is used in the manufacture of PVC pipes and fittings, so it’s no secret that it plays an important role in many industries, most notably, plumbing.
The key to a circular economy is designing products to last. One of the common plastics used for pipe production is PVC. Thanks to its durability and long service life, typically more than 100 years, this material is found on all building sites today. Although most of the PVC goes into the buildings, there can be off-cuts that can be reused and reprocessed into new PVC pipes.
As society moves towards a more sustainable future, the plumbing industry is leading the way in playing a role in diverting off-cuts of plastic pipes from landfill, increasing the levels of post-consumer recycling (PCR) and contributing to a circular economy.
To understand the volume of available PVC pipe off-cuts and fittings from construction sites, Master Plumbers’ Association Queensland (MPAQ) and Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia (PIPA), in conjunction with Vinidex, Iplex, Tradelink, and Reece, joined forces and launched the Construction Plastics Recycled Scheme in October 2021 as part of their environmental commitments. The Queensland Government provided funding support to ensure the delivery of the Construction Plastics Recycling Scheme.
Since the scheme officially launched, collection bins have been set up at fourteen participating locations across Southeast Queensland, growing from the seven locations at the launch of the scheme. These bins have been providing alternative outlets for PVC off-cuts to be discarded. The off-cuts recorded in these bins during the scheme have been audited and data has been recorded.
The scheme to date has proven to be popular, with bins being returned full of PVC off-cuts. There has been overwhelming positive feedback from people within the industry about the scheme, motivating businesses to go out of their way to use the bins at the locations or drop their off-cuts directly at the pipe manufactures.
Building a responsible, sustainable future
Did you know that PVC pipe off-cuts and fittings can be recycled into new pipes? Collect your off-cuts and drop them in one of the recycling bins near you. Your efforts contribute to building a more responsible, sustainable future.
