Axion Engineering is now looking to work with a partner on a bid following the Scottish Government’s recent announcement of a £5 million capital grant programme to

Axion Engineering is now looking to work with a partner on a bid following the Scottish Government’s recent announcement of a £5 million capital grant programme to develop plastics reprocessing infrastructure in Scotland.

The Zero Waste Scotland initiative aims to divert a minimum of 20,000 additional tonnes of plastic waste from landfill each year. Currently only 15,000 tonnes of Scotland’s annual 200,000 tonnes of household plastic waste is collected for recycling.

“This scheme offers exciting potential to recover far more plastic waste for re-use in new products and to reduce the environmental impact and cost of its disposal,” comments Director Roger Morton. “Given our considerable experience in this sector and success with solutions for mixed waste plastics, we are very interested in partnering with – or advising - companies who want to pursue this valuable opportunity.”

Contact Roger to discuss this opportunity:
Tel: 0161 426 7731
 

The winner of the Axion Polymers Green Product Design Competition is Gary Poolman with his design ‘Wazzon’. This innovative gadget enables swift and efficient drying

The winner of the Axion Polymers Green Product Design Competition is Gary Poolman with his design ‘Wazzon’. This innovative gadget enables swift and efficient drying of sandwich bags, allowing them to be washed and re-used. The Wazzon can also be used to dry other types of bags and items such as rubber gloves.   

Keith Freegard, Director, comments: “This is the first time we have run a design competition and we wanted designers to engage with our recycled materials and to respond to Axpoly’s environmental profile.”
Keith is pleased with the response: “Some really exciting, novel designs were entered with designers responding well to the brief. We had over 20 entries from as far afield as California and Columbia!”

“Designs included collection and sorting of recyclables and several for furniture. We were also pleased to see some innovative improvements to existing products,” comments Keith. “Generally the entries were well presented; most had thought quite hard about the brief and contacted our polymer technologist Chris Newman, prior to submitting, for advice on manufacturing and tooling costs.”

“The winning entry impressed the judges as an innovative ‘green’ idea with the capacity to alter people’s behaviour. Gary’s design was very well presented and he had clearly thought about the whole concept, including using minimal, recycled packaging” says Keith.

Picked from a shortlist of 5 by a panel of external judges including Claire Curtis-Thomas, MP for Crosby and Member of the Associate Parliamentary Group for Design and Innovation; Martin Charter, Director for the Centre of Sustainable Design, University College of the Arts (UCA), Roy Miller, Social Reponsibility Advisor at B&Q and Bob Shaw, experienced industrial designer; Gary Poolman will be presented with his £500 cash prize, together with an opportunity to work with Axion Polymers to take his product to market, at the Envirolink event ‘Why recycled materials make good business sense’ to be held on 16th March at Haydock Park Racecourse.  

Claire Curtis-Thomas comments:
“I'm delighted to be involved in a competition which showcases the best of this country's design talent. In the twenty-first century, young designers have to face the challenge of making innovative products which are both attractive and responsibly made. The winning product will show that this is possible and help bring that message of low carbon design to a huge audience.”

Ground-breaking trials by Axion Consulting have shown waste polypropylene carpets can be recycled into good quality polymer pellet for re-use in new applications, such as injection-moulded

Ground-breaking trials by Axion Consulting have shown waste polypropylene carpets can be recycled into good quality polymer pellet for re-use in new applications, such as injection-moulded products.

The findings could stimulate the UK’s fledgling carpet recycling industry and develop new markets for PP recyclate with associated environmental and economic benefits.

The project was initiated by Carpet Recycling UK which secured funding from Envirolink NW to investigate recycling options for post-consumer carpets and possible new end-use markets for PP products made from recovered material. Processing stages involved size reduction, screening and extrusion.

Tests showed that while post-industrial extruded polymer had potential for use in a range of applications including injection moulding, further work was needed to verify its suitability. Post-consumer material could be recycled for medium to lower grade applications such as plant pots, compost bins or buckets.

Axion’s demonstration trials and laboratory tests at its Salford plant concluded that while the economics of the recycling process ‘look promising’, the next steps would require large-scale trials to assess commercial viability.

Axion Director Roger Morton says:

“We believe this is the first in-depth study of its kind in the UK and are very pleased with the positive results. Carpet recycling in the UK is currently limited with only a few companies involved and recycling processing in development stages. So this successful study shows exciting potential and promise for material recovery from a difficult and largely-ignored waste stream.”

Axion also found that correct identification and segregation of post-consumer carpets into an entirely PP fraction is critical to the viability of a commercial process to recycle carpets. Mixed polymer carpet material is not suitable for extrusion, so their end market is still likely to be other applications.

Currently very few recycling processes exist to handle the UK’s 500,000 tonnes of carpet waste that is sent to landfill each year. The UK’s carpet industry recycling rate is under 2% - an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 tonnes – so developing reprocessing infrastructure could significantly reduce the environmental impact of carpet disposal.

Carpet Recycling UK was formed as a not-for-profit association of companies from the carpet industry to take a lead in waste reduction by co-ordinating research and development and has built up a significant knowledge base. The organisation is now seeking further research funding and wants to pursue commercial scale carpet recycling trials as Chief Executive Kate Chappell explains:

“This study shows there is great potential to reclaim valuable material from carpet waste and re-use it in new products in a variety of end markets. We are actively pursuing fresh sources of funding to take this exciting breakthrough to new levels.”
 
Dave Taylor from Envirolink Northwest comments:

“By funding trials to help divert post-consumer waste carpets from landfill, Envirolink is actively supporting the Government's directives to reduce landfill, while building a low carbon economy in the region. This successful outcome will have both environmental and economic benefits, as future growth in the region's recycling sector will help to create and safeguard jobs.”

For further infomation, contact Jane Gardner at Axion Consulting tel: +44 (0) 161 426 7731

Axion Consulting has recently completed a series of trials of the most promising techniques for difficult WEEE separations and the full report is now available to download from

Axion Consulting has recently completed a series of trials of the most promising techniques for difficult WEEE separations and the full report is now available to download from WRAP. Click here to download.

The trials were commissioned by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) following an earlier Defra funded study in to new and emerging separation techniques.

The new study focused on techniques that have emerged over the past three to four years since the UK began to reprocess significant volumes of WEEE materials. Techniques with the potential to improve the effectiveness and commercial viability of WEEE recycling processes were selected for the project.

The trials demonstrated techniques that could be used to separate and process mixed WEEE plastics and evaluated the techniques in terms of their ability to sort material by polymer type, colour and/or remove impurities. The suitability and economic performance of the techniques was assessed.

Axion trialled four categories of techniques:

• Sensor based separators;

• Shape and density separators;

• Separation by impact milling; and

• Effect of particle size distribution.

Following extensive trials, five techniques were identified as producing good quality separations of their target WEEE materials.

• TITECH Near Infrared (NIR) ‘Polysort’ sorter;

• Visys laser sorter;

• Delft University Kinetic Gravity Separator;

• Holma Wilfley wet shaking table; and

• Allmineral ‘Allflux’ upflow classifier.

Axion evaluated the economic potential of the five techniques and estimated that, (with certain conditions), the TITECH NIR sorter would recoup its initial investment within three years, and the Delft University Kinetic Gravity Separator, the Holman Wilfley wet shaking table and the Allmineral Allflux upflow separator would pay back their initial investment within two years. The Visys laser sorter, whilst producing a concentrated circuit board fraction with good separation efficiency, was found to be not economically viable at the present time, given the low current market value of circuit boards.

Axion Director, Roger Morton, comments on the trials: “We expect the results of these trials will be of great use to both primary and secondary WEEE processors facing the technical and economic challenges of reprocessing WEEE materials. The information on the demonstrated techniques will help to improve the efficient and effective reprocessing of this potentially ‘difficult to handle’ waste stream”.

Rising interest in the use of more sustainable materials by plastic goods manufacturers in the East is reflecting that shown by Axion Polymers’ European customers making

Rising interest in the use of more sustainable materials by plastic goods manufacturers in the East is reflecting that shown by Axion Polymers’ European customers making items such as components for household appliance and electrical goods.

Axion Polymers has already started work with a Chinese processor in Cixi and is now looking for several more potential partners that can meet its polymer quality specifications.

“This processor was already successfully blending polystyrenes and ABS with virgin material to produce quality recycled polymers that are used locally in high-grade applications by international branded-goods producers,” explains Axion Director Keith Freegard.

Keith was speaking at the recent China Replas 2009, a major plastic recycling exhibition and conference in Hang Zhou, China.  As one of only a few European firms exhibiting at the event, Axion’s participation was welcomed by the organisers who say they’re looking forward to developing more international plastics recycling trading partnerships: “We see this as a very positive start and are happy to provide the necessary support to help Axion Polymers establish new business in China. We wish them success for the future,” says Jason Wang, Vice Secretary General of PRC-CPPIA.

Keith says: “As a result of very strong interest experienced at this show, we are actively pursuing partnerships with similar companies whom we could supply with raw materials from our existing European sources.”

High specification recycled polymers are key to supplying this market, given greater prominence of sustainability issues coupled with stronger consumer demand for eco-friendly appliances, he points out.

“I think there’s little point in being a ‘me-too’ exporter of plastics as the margins are too small and there’s nothing new to this idea. Bringing value to the partnership with recycled material meeting the same high quality UK specifications and sharing the benefits is what really counts,” he observes. “Our aim is to continue selling in Europe, but with a fresh focus on the Asian sector where we see real potential for growth.”

Keith adds: “Some 70% to 80% of the UK’s plastics which are collected for recycling are actually exported, so developing stronger trading partnerships is vital if we are to improve both the quality and the proportion of recovered materials used in new goods, many of which are manufactured in Asia.

“Huge amounts of agricultural and industrial films, post-consumer and WEEE plastics are exported to China because sufficient recycling capacity does not exist here in the UK to recover these materials economically. Focusing on partnership processing of tradable materials with our Chinese colleagues has to be the best way forward in terms of reducing environmental impact and increasing global levels of material recovery. This, I believe, is what fits best with our world-wide manufacturing markets.”
 

To mark the launch of its new 100% recycled polystyrene sheet product – Axfoil® - Axion Polymers has launched a design competition with a £500 cash prize to find

To mark the launch of its new 100% recycled polystyrene sheet product – Axfoil® - Axion Polymers has launched a design competition with a £500 cash prize to find the best innovative and sustainable product design using its sheet or Axpoly® compound.

In the first competition of its kind organised by the company, the winner will also have the opportunity to work with Axion Polymers on developing and taking their successful design to market.

Axion is seeking designs for a novel household product with mass market appeal that could be manufactured from its Axfoil or Axpoly products, which are derived from 100% recycled refrigerator plastic, TV casings or post-consumer electronic games consoles. Entries must be submitted by January 31st 2010.

Ideas could be completely unique or based on improving an existing product on the market, but the crucial element is that they embody the ‘green’ credentials and environmental profile of the material.

“Environmental impact, sustainability and potential for energy-savings are key considerations and of increasing importance for designers,” comments Axion director Keith Freegard. “Legislation, such as the European Eco-Design Directive 2005/32/EC aimed at the environmentally-friendly design of energy-using products, and its recent extension to include items with an indirect impact on energy use, such as windows, construction and water-using products, requires designers to consider these issues.”

He continues: “A product made from 100% recycled plastic, such as Axpoly®, that can be recycled at the end of its useful life, will have an immediate environmental advantage; saving 90% of CO^₂ emissions in its initial manufacture and reducing carbon impact over the product’s lifecycle. It’s an exciting and progressive concept!”

Keith adds: “Axfoil is a new product, so we are fascinated to see what can be made from it. Our customers use Axpoly grades to make products as diverse as horticultural pots, office letter trays, parts for domestic electrical goods and even camera parts. With that in mind, we’re looking forward to receiving some really imaginative product ideas.”

Download the full competition details here:

Axion Polymers' 'Green' Product Design Competition details

 

Download a competition poster here:

Axion Polymers 'Green' Product Design Competition Poster

For more information, contact Axion Polymers on 0161 737 6124 
 

Axion Polymers has launched Axfoil® - its first new 100% recycled extruded sheet product to meet the demand for a quality and sustainable alternative that offers huge CO2 impact

Axion Polymers has launched Axfoil® - its first new 100% recycled extruded sheet product to meet the demand for a quality and sustainable alternative that offers huge CO2 impact savings.

Available in varying widths and thicknesses to suit customer requirements, Axfoil is manufactured to the same ISO 9000 quality-controlled standards as proven Axpoly recycled polymers. The product is being launched as a black polystyrene sheet, but Axion expects to add further polymer types and colours in response to customer requirements over the coming months.

Axfoil is also a genuine ‘green’ plastic product. When made in polystyrene material recovered from WEEE plastic waste, it requires 93% less CO2 in its manufacture compared to virgin polymer. It can also be made from PP plastic.
Ideal for a variety of thermo-forming or sheet conversion applications, Axfoil is supplied in reels up to 950mm wide, up to 2 mm thick and in various colours. As a ROHS-compliant and REACH-ready product, it comes with full specification data sheets and has undergone stringent quality testing. Potential uses range from horticultural pots to in-store POS displays and collation trays that can eventually be recycled again.

Axfoil’s introduction marks an important market extension for Axion Polymers, as Director Keith Freegard explains: “A lot of thermoformed products go into markets where environmental awareness among the end-users is very high, such as cosmetic and horticultural products. The introduction of Axfoil sheet takes the values and benefits of our recycled polymer range one step closer to the end-user, where sustainability is increasingly becoming a key deciding factor at the point of purchase.”

Keith adds: “Additionally, we can thermoform samples of moulded items in our laboratory, so clients can have a ‘preview’ of how their product will look in a fully recycled sheet that is 100% suitable for their manufacturing purposes.”

For more information, contact Axion Polymers on 0161 737 6124 or download the Product Specification Sheet at www.axionrecycling.com/products.cfm

Two of the country’s leading flooring manufacturers, Altro and Polyflor, have launched the UK’s first vinyl flooring recycling take-back scheme.

The

Two of the country’s leading flooring manufacturers, Altro and Polyflor, have launched the UK’s first vinyl flooring recycling take-back scheme.

The new industry-funded Recofloor scheme will increase the recycling of waste vinyl flooring in the UK. Through the scheme, safety flooring offcuts and smooth vinyl offcuts from the installation process will be recycled back into new flooring. Uplifted, or end-of-life material, will be used in the manufacture of traffic calming products, such as traffic cone and road barrier bases.

Axion Consulting is the agent for the Recofloor scheme, which has developed from a WRAP-funded (Waste & Resources Action Programme) trial to increase the collection and recycling of vinyl flooring.

As a free-standing industry scheme, the target now is to create a sustainable, cost-effective and efficient collection system. Waste flooring is accepted from all types of sources, from individual contractors to large construction projects.  Axion’s role involves co-ordinating and managing Recofloor collection systems.

Registered Recofloor participants will be provided with bulk bags which can be collected from site when filled with vinyl flooring, or they can drop off waste at one of 19 designated sites across the UK. Recofloor is keen to increase the number of drop-off sites across the UK and to recruit distributors to provide a drop-off point for vinyl flooring waste.

Recofloor Project Manager Jane Gardner, of Axion Consulting, said both manufacturers have invested a lot of time and cost into developing internal recycling processes for vinyl flooring and they feel the time is right to set up an industry collection scheme.

“We are very pleased that Altro and Polyflor, as founder
members of Recofloor, have made this huge commitment to the sustainability of vinyl flooring. It is a major achievement and an important step for the industry,” she says.

“Increasingly customers are keen to see their end-of-life flooring recycled. Recofloor participants benefit from compliance with Site Waste Management legislation and receive a ‘certificate of commitment’ to recycling. Providing their ‘green’ credentials can help them gain new contracts,” adds Jane.
According to Polyflor, its products have on average 25% recycled content. “This is great considering the vast number of ranges available and the volumes which are produced,” says Environmental Market Manager Sonia Baker. “In 2008, Polyflor manufactured and sold around 20 million square metres of vinyl flooring, with 12,005 tonnes of post industrial waste and 736 tonnes of post consumer waste being recycled back into new product. Through Recofloor, we are aiming to increase the amount of post consumer waste that is recycled back into our flooring, across all ranges.”

Richard Kahn, Chief Executive of Altro, comments: “At Altro, responsibility is at the heart of everything we do.  We constantly look at ways to reduce our environmental impact in both production processes and how the organisation is run. Thanks to the installation of the world’s first in-house safety flooring recycling system we have not sent any waste PVC to landfill since mid 2007, and now recycle 100% of our factory waste PVC.”

“The Recofloor scheme is the latest breakthrough in our recycling programme. Not only will this allow us to increase the amount of recycled content in our safety flooring products, it will also reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, lower operating costs and offer contractors a tangible competitive advantage when tendering for projects.”

For more information, contact Axion ‘s Recofloor team on +44 161 355 7618
 

Axion Consulting has been engaged in a WRAP-funded (Waste & Resources Action Programme) technical study aimed at identifying improved segregation techniques used to process

Axion Consulting has been engaged in a WRAP-funded (Waste & Resources Action Programme) technical study aimed at identifying improved segregation techniques used to process construction waste, with a view to increasing the quality and volume of waste which can be recovered. The study focuses on new, improved and emerging segregation technologies for separating and recycling construction waste at Material Recovery Faclities (MRFs).

The study has been split into two phases. Phase one of the study identified technologies that have the potential to be widely used in the UK.  The project focussed on the recovery of non-inert waste from the waste stream. As Jane Gardner, Axion Senior Consultant explains: “We undertook a characterisation study in order to assess, measure and categorise typical mixtures of materials handled by construction waste MRFs. We worked with five MRFs to obtain samples of material and sorted this material by hand into key categories.”

The initial phase of the research study confirmed that most construction waste MRFs are very effective in recovering inert material but improvements can be made for recovery rates for the non-inert fractions.  In addition, it provided a detailed inderstanding of the in-feed materials at construction waste MRFs and assessed output streams to identify contaminants in output materials. As Jane Gardner explains: “Wood is a particularly problematic stream for MRFs, as it tends to become distributed across all output streams. The study also indictaed that increased screening of material is likely to help improve the separation of the non-inert fraction.”

The second phase of the study involves demonstration trials of the following technologies, identified during phase one of the study:

    •    Redox Windshifter
    •    Bezner Bucket Screen
    •    Bezner inclined sorting Machine
    •    IFE heavy duty waste screen

Trials of these technologies have now been completed at MRFs using them in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. Samples have been taken and are currently being analysed in more detail to obtain information regarding the output purity and separation efficiency of each of the technologies.

In addition to trialing these technologies, Axion is looking at the effect of improving the working conditions for pickers on sorting lines at MRFs to assess the impact on productivity and landfill diversion. As Jane explains:
 
“We observed that the conditions on the sorting line at construction waste MRFs can be very poor: sorting sheds are often very draughty, dusty and noisy with poor lighting conditions. Although the picked material streams are pure, a lot of recyclables still end up in the residue fraction which is sent to landfill.”

Axion is currently running a trial at a construction waste MRF, putting in place improvements to the sorting line environment in order to see whether enhancements to the welfare of the workers has a direct influence on the efficiency and quality of the manual sorting process and quality of output materials. These improvements include:
 
    •    Lighting making it easier for operatives to distinguish the different materials to be picked;

    •    Music through a radio specifically designed for noisy environments such as factories and construction sites; and

    •    Anti-fatigue matting to reduce the vibrations felt by the operatives at the picking line and helps to prevent physical fatigue and swollen joints.

The technical study is due for completion in the Autumn.

WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) has recently begun a scoping project with the aim of enabling retailers and brands to use recycled polypropylene plastic in food

WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) has recently begun a scoping project with the aim of enabling retailers and brands to use recycled polypropylene plastic in food packaging.

Polypropylene is regularly recycled into industry plastics application (such as buckets and pallets), but until now, recycling it into food grade packaging has not been possible. WRAP has commissioned Axion Consulting, in partnership with Greenstar WES, Fraunhofer IVV and Pira Consulting, to undertake the scoping study to test the process of recycling polypropylene, and the commercial viability of it in food grade packaging. Using polypropylene instead of virgin plastics, for food packaging also presents significant environmental benefits that can be enjoyed by retailers, brands and consumers.

Polypropylene makes up a significant proportion of plastic packaging in the household bin in terms of food pots (e.g. yoghurt pots), food tubs (e.g. margarine), and sauce bottles (e.g. brown sauce), and developing a process to enable it to be recycled is an important next step towards sustainable packaging.

Paul Davidson, WRAP’s Special Advisor on Plastics said: “Developing a commercial process for food grade polypropylene is widely seen as the next big challenge for food grade recycling technology.  WRAP recognises that the retailers, brand owners and packaging companies all want polypropylene to be available for food grade packaging.  However with its many different grades and colours used in packaging, developing such a process will be demanding. We are pleased to be working with experts in this area to help scope this work, and enable the industry as a whole to move towards more sustainable packaging.”

Roger Morton, Director of Axion Consulting said: “This is a fascinating and technically challenging development project, which will involve us gaining a more in depth understanding of the issues associated with the feasibility of recycling polypropylene for food packaging. The project will also test whether the food grade High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) recycling process already in existence can be used to recycle polypropylene which meets food grade standards. The findings will help to identify what further technical requirements exist to developing a successful food grade recycling process for polypropylene and what recommendations need to be made to achieve this.”

The scoping study ends in late August 2009 and WRAP will be making findings available in the autumn. 

Axion Polymers’ Director Keith Freegard is calling for a fairer system to reward manufacturers using recycled polymers from waste electricals in new products. This would

Axion Polymers’ Director Keith Freegard is calling for a fairer system to reward manufacturers using recycled polymers from waste electricals in new products. This would also help to satisfy growing consumer demand for ‘greener’ goods.

Keith would like to see the inclusion of stronger financial incentives to boost the use of recycled plastics in new products to be introduced as part of the European Commission’s proposals to revise the WEEE Directive. The Department for Business (BERR) has invited UK industry views on the proposals by mid-May.

“More weight and value should be given to those equipment manufacturers who can demonstrate they are using recycled plastics derived from waste electrical and electronic equipment,” says Keith. “Current revisions of the WEEE Directive and UK regulations that govern it present the ideal opportunity to do this.”

Keith suggests a ‘credit’ system whereby producers could offset every tonne of recyclate used in new goods against their obligated tonnage of old electrical items sent for recycling.

This would act as an effective driver to stimulate collection and high-quality recycling of a useful stream of materials from WEEE – helping the Directive to deliver what was originally envisaged at its UK launch nearly two years ago.

“If producers can claim a rebate for every tonne of recycled WEEE material proved to be used in new electrical equipment, this would give added benefit and credence to the fundamental aims of the WEEE Directive,” continues Keith.

“Ultimately, we are seeking to encourage the re-use of materials by people in the street. Consumers are far more aware of companies’ eco-credentials in the production of new equipment, such as washing machines and electrical products. So by reducing the burden on manufacturers, we are also helping the end-users and ultimately the environment.”

Axion Polymers is taking a pioneering approach to getting recycled polymers specified at the start-of-life for new products. Axion’s innovative Material Information

Axion Polymers is taking a pioneering approach to getting recycled polymers specified at the start-of-life for new products. Axion’s innovative Material Information Cards assist designers with sustainable material choices.

Axion Polymers is trialling the concept, which was developed for Axion by Rosie Hornbuckle of Kingston University. The card aims to improve awareness among product designers of the creative, technological and environmental merits of using 100% recycled polymer in new goods and encourage them to consider its use over virgin materials.
As a ‘passport for materials’, the document provides a convenient and easy-to-use source of essential technical information that designers need, to understand a material’s suitability for any given application, such as physical properties, applications, pricing and availability.

It also advises on sustainability benefits, such as
those offered by Axion’s 100% post-consumer recycled polymers recovered from fridges and waste electrical and electronic equipment. The ISO 9000 quality-certified polymers successfully replace virgin grade resin with 93% less CO2 impact and offer major production cost savings.

Axion is currently trialling the prototype cards for all its Axpoly grades, which are available to download on www.axionpolymers.com

The cards were developed in conjunction with project partners Kingston University, which was funded by London Remade and the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

“Developing innovative and exciting new products from recycled materials has to be the sustainable way forward in making the best re-use of our valuable resources,” says Axion director Keith Freegard.

“However raising the profile of recycled polymers as not just ‘green’ products, but materials that perform to exacting standards in their own right is crucial if they are to be more widely specified. Providing the necessary information and reassurance to designers is vital if we are to succeed in meeting the growing customer demand for sustainable products.”

Keith points out there are also real business benefits in using recycled materials over virgin materials in product manufacture. Advantages include cutting raw material costs, reducing energy requirements and making carbon savings. Axion’s 100% recycled polymer is now used in the annual mainstream production of Indesit’s 600,000 washing machine access panels.

Feedback on the new cards is welcomed from designers, as Rosie Hornbuckle from Kingston University explains: “It’s also all about changing designers’ perceptions, expanding horizons and getting past the emotional response to using recycled materials in new products. Eventually we hope the information card concept can be extended to all recycled materials for use in manufacturing new products in the UK.”

For further details, contact Keith Freegard
tel: +44 208 567 1425
email: info@axionpolymers.com

Moisture content can often be an issue in polymer manufacture but Axion Polymers has taken several steps to ensure that moisture levels are kept to a minimium in its award-winning

Moisture content can often be an issue in polymer manufacture but Axion Polymers has taken several steps to ensure that moisture levels are kept to a minimium in its award-winning product, Axpoly®.  Axion guarantees that the moisture content of its recycled polymers will be less than 0.25% and typically will be less than 0.2%.

Axion has achieved these figures by modifying its multi-million pound plant to include extra drying time and by employing strict quality standards to the storage and transportation of its recycled polymers. Axion’s materials are supplied in 1 tonne woven polypropylene sacks and all consignments are checked for moisture content before they leave the factory.

However, Axion ‘goes the extra mile’ to ensure low moisture content as Laura Winstanley, Logistics Manager, explains:

“If it is raining when the stock leaves the factory, or if the customer stores the material outside once it has been delivered, then it can be vulnerable to additional moisture content. To prevent this, we ship every order inside a durable, 70 micron plastic bag. The 2.5m-long plastic bags are placed upside down over the sacks of pellets, pulled down over the sides of the sacks and secured at the bottom.”

Axion’s customers are enthusiastic about the packaging of its products as the following customer comment demonstrates:

“Can I say without exception this is the tidiest well packaged delivery of reprocessed material I have seen?” 

As Laura comments: “Moisture content is an important issue as it can lead to watermarks when the pellets are injection moulded or extruded. We are using the bags at extra cost to ourselves but we think it is worth it.”

In addition to its careful packaging, Axion has strict procedures for the transportation of its products. Its 1 tonne big bags are strapped to the inside of delivery vehicles and photographs are taken before the material leaves the factory, as proof of secure dispatch. As Laura notes:

“Sometimes material can shunt in transit. If a vehicle arrives without the necessary straps, then we will not load it as we cannot guarantee that the order will not be safe. This helps us to ensure that all our orders arrive in good condition. It gives us and our customers peace of mind.”
Axion recently completed its second external surveillance audit, required to ensure its compliance with the ISO9000 quality award status. As Roger Morton, Axion Director, comments:

“Customer satisfaction is an important part of our compliance with ISO9000 and it is through procedures such as these that we are able to ensure that our customers remain happy with both our products and our service.”

The Recovinyl initiative has now been up and running in the UK for over 4 years. During this time the initiative has gone from strength to strength, building a network of accredited

The Recovinyl initiative has now been up and running in the UK for over 4 years. During this time the initiative has gone from strength to strength, building a network of accredited PVC recyclers and recruiting hundreds of collectors of post-use material across the UK. Currently there are 30 recyclers signed up to the scheme in the UK, providing coverage across the whole country.

The Recovinyl initiative was conceived to ‘kickstart’ PVC  recycling and UK agents Axion Consulting set about organising a network of recyclers who could accept the material, publicising the scheme and recruiting collectors of post-use PVC.  The past four years have seen impressive growth in the volume of PVC recycled under the scheme, from just over 6000 tonnes in 2005 to an estimated 50,000 tonnes or more in 2008 - helping to prove that PVC is a highly recyclable material. Recovinyl volumes are verified by independent auditors who provide quality, reliable data.

The success of Recovinyl has helped to improve PVC’s environmental credentials, ensuring that specifiers consider PVC to be a sustainable product. Under the scheme, a range of PVC products are recycled, including windows, pipes, guttering and fascias. More recently, volumes of flexible PVC, from cabling and flooring have been on a steady rise.

Since it began in 2005, the European initiative has expanded its programme and now operates in 10 countries across the continent. The UK has made a very positive contribution by collecting and processing over 38% of the total material recycled by the scheme in Europe.  As Roger Morton, Axion Director, comments: “The scheme is succeeding in ensuring that large volumes of PVC do not end up in landfill.”“It has been very satisfying to see the scheme make such a positive contribution to PVC recycling and to deliver the message that this is a sustainable building material.” adds Roger.

Most of the PVC recycled by the initiative is used to ‘close the loop’ and manufacture long life, high-grade products such as windows, pipes, conduits, flooring and safety products.

The weak pound may be bad news for importers and tourists, but it is helping UK-based plastic recyclers to be more competitive abroad, according to Axion Director Roger Morton.

Waste plastic from fridges and WEEE has been transformed into ‘greener’ Christmas gifts in a new partnership between Axion Polymers and an upmarket eco-conscious

Waste plastic from fridges and WEEE has been transformed into ‘greener’ Christmas gifts in a new partnership between Axion Polymers and an upmarket eco-conscious retailer.

High grade polymers from Axion’s advanced Salford processing plant have been turned into novelty, eco-friendly keyfobs by Smile Plastics Ltd, which specialises in turning waste plastics into a variety of unique, quality products.

Thousands of the stylised car, house and T-shirt designs were produced as £2.95 Christmas gifts for global retailer Muji, which has 14 stores in the UK including nine in London.

Manufacturing the keyrings from 100% recycled plastic represents a 50% saving in carbon emissions compared with using raw materials.

The concept fits with the Japanese company’s principle of developing new products by making the best use of materials while considering environmental issues – and one which all three companies believe could open up exciting new end markets and sales opportunities appealing to environmentally-aware consumers.

Axion’s Technical Director Roger Morton says it could unlock fresh business opportunities for gifts with recycled content.

Colin Williamson, Managing Director of Shrewsbury-based Smile Plastics Ltd and a founding member of the British Plastics Federation’s Recycling Council agrees, saying:

“Muji wanted to explore what products could be made from recycled plastic, and with Axion’s help, we were able to come up with the solution.”

“Axion is a technically-driven company run by chemical engineers who understand sustainability issues, the concept of quality recycled materials and the opportunities in the plastic recycling industry. Recycling is a process that starts as waste diversion and ends with someone buying a product that was originally manufactured from ‘waste’ in preference to one made from virgin materials.”

“We’re looking forward to developing new ideas and uses for recycled plastic in the future through this Axion, Smile and Muji partnership,” added Colin.


For further information, contact Keith Freegard or Laura Winstanley at Axion Polymers:

Tel: +44 161 737 6124
email:sales@axionpolymers.co.uk

More than 16 months after its launch in the UK, the WEEE Directive is still failing to deliver its original aims of high-quality recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment

More than 16 months after its launch in the UK, the WEEE Directive is still failing to deliver its original aims of high-quality recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) to produce a useful stream of materials for re-manufacture back into new E & E goods. In fact there is now an increase in the level of waste being exported to third world countries, which can be to the detriment of human and environmental health, claims Axion.
It can be argued that the export of untreated WEEE waste, or whole items labelled for ‘re-use’, to countries with a lack of control on disposal of unwanted material fractions, causes more environmental damage than EU landfill of whole WEEE items, Keith Freegard, Axion Sales Director, told a Brussels conference.

Giving his views on the Directive’s track record to date, Keith suggested that Europe should process the waste streams created by WEEE primary treatment inside Europe, under legislative controls which ensure that the environment and human health is protected. The producers of electrical equipment have been made responsible for their end-of-life waste products under this Directive and Keith Freegard believes that this should include ensuring that the by-products of primary WEEE treatment are handled in processes which uphold the principles of Duty of Care for waste.

“It’s clear that the WEEE Directive is failing to deliver what it originally set out to do; that is the best treatment, recycling and recovery techniques should be applied to maximise material re-use and to minimize risks to human health and the environment,” he said. “In reality what has happened is finding the cheapest way to smash up an electrical item. While the metal recovery from this route is a valuable benefit, there is a destruction of the potential value in circuit boards and plastic components, which end up in a highly co-mingled, very dirty WEEE shredder residue.”
 
The Directive allows the by-products of WEEE primary treatment to be exported for futher recycling to countries where the processing methods are claimed to operate under ‘broadly equivalent standards’. Evidence of the mass of material that actually ends up being recycled or the environmental disposal methods used for unwanted waste fractions is non-existent, in Keith’s view.

Calling for much stronger controls on the export of WEEE and how it is subsequently re-used or recycled, Keith added: “We may have got some things right, but my view is we got an awful lot wrong.”
 

Waste transfer stations (WTS) that accept vinyl flooring waste from smaller contractors are being sought by Recovinyl’s agent Axion Recycling to boost a permanent collection

Waste transfer stations (WTS) that accept vinyl flooring waste from smaller contractors are being sought by Recovinyl’s agent Axion Recycling to boost a permanent collection scheme for all types of vinyl flooring in the UK.

The Vinyl Flooring Recycling Scheme is the result of a six-month trial to pilot the collection and recycling of post-use vinyl flooring, which was commissioned by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) in 2007. During the trial, a total of 25 tonnes of material was collected from a wide range of projects, including retail construction sites, hospitals, distributors and individual flooring contractors.

With renewed support from WRAP, Axion is working with four leading flooring manufacturers – Altro, Gerflor, Polyflor and Tarkett to extend the scheme to include safety flooring off-cuts for recycling. Where possible, flooring is picked up by a participating manufacturer and the material is taken for processing at three recycling centres run by Polyflor in Manchester, Tarkett in Kent and Altro in Letchworth.

Jane Gardner, Axion’s Project Leader says setting up strategic collection points at waste transfer stations that will accept smaller quantities of material, will be crucial to increasing recycling rates.

Although Axion has set up collection schemes at four SITA UK sites, including the Campground Waste Transfer Station SITA UK runs on behalf of Gateshead Council at Wrekenton, it aims to expand the network of facilities across the UK.

“We particularly want to hear from more waste transfer stations that could accept vinyl flooring waste brought in by tradesmen,” she explains. “There is demand for this service as 22 flooring contractors we spoke to within a 10-mile radius of Gateshead said they would use the SITA UK service at the Campground site.”

Axion supplies flooring contractors with clear plastic bags as required for the collection of flooring material. WTS operators then record tonnages of waste material they collect. Contractors can save money by diverting this waste from landfill and they will also receive certificates of commitment to prove their ‘green credentials’ in recycling the material. This can help in gaining new contracts with environmentally-aware customers.

Ian Haswell, SITA UK’s Operations Manager at Campground comments: “It’s still early days, but we are confident that this will prove a convenient service for local flooring contractors who will not only save on disposal costs, but will help prevent much of this recyclable material from being landfilled.”

Recessionary times could be good news for plastic recyclers as manufacturers are under pressure to seek more sustainable and lower-cost solutions for products to remain competitive.

Recessionary times could be good news for plastic recyclers as manufacturers are under pressure to seek more sustainable and lower-cost solutions for products to remain competitive.

Greater recycled content in plastic goods could provide the answer amid a global financial crisis that has seen record oil prices continuing to force up the cost of virgin polymers, according to Keith Freegard, Commercial Director of Axion Polymers.
 
Commenting on a recent British Plastics Federation survey showing mixed views from plastics companies on the future for their businesses, Keith predicts the economic uncertainty could present plenty of opportunities for forward-thinking firms.

“People are recognising the value of plastic waste and there are a lot of drivers for the use of recycled plastic content in numerous everyday products, from plant pots to electrical appliances,” he observes. “This has to be a good thing as recyclate is not directly linked to the price of oil and consumers are demanding ‘greener’ products that conserve the environment and finite resources.”

“Retailers are also demanding new ways to differentiate their otherwise similar products, and an extra user-benefit, such as stronger environmental image, is used by consumers to make the choice of branded items in crowded and mature markets,” he continues.

“They want a low cost and sustainable solution, and that is what recycling delivers. I am getting a number of inquiries about our recycled polymers from companies of all sizes and along the polymer value chain, as a result of their customers asking for recycled content in new products.”

End uses for Axion’s polymer include a white goods component for a major household appliance manufacturer, internal parts for flat screen TV sets and till roll cores.

Environmental concerns and the rising cost of virgin polymers linked to high oil prices are being reflected in more inquiries from moulders seeking to use high quality substitutes, says Keith.

Speaking after Axion’s recent successful Interplas debut which generated dozens of promising leads, Keith said: “The show highlighted more moulding companies are experiencing demand from their clients for recycled content in new products. This is something they need to consider. For example, one moulder’s client had designed a product to be sold on its eco-credentials so the use of recycled content is crucial to its success.”
“We understand injection-moulders’ concerns about changing their material supply. But as experts in the recovery and re-use of post-consumer plastics, we can meet their requirements for IS09000, quality-assured and sustainable raw material that appeals to ‘greener’ customers. Our Axpoly® ranges of high-specification polymers made from waste fridge, television and electrical appliance plastics are already used in many new extruded and injection-moulded items, from containers to household appliances.”

Axion uses more than 20 individual process stages at its advanced award-winning Salford plant to turn mixed plastics of all polymer types into high quality recyclate suitable for re-use in injection moulding and extrusion processes. Producing Axpoly achieves a 93% reduction in CO2 emissions. All Axion’s finished products compete technically and commercially with virgin grade polymers.

For further information about Axpoly,
Tel: +44 161 737 6124
email: info@axionpolymers.co.uk

Processing waste plastics in the UK and Europe is still a better option than export abroad for environmental, ethical and legal reasons – particularly for waste electrical

Processing waste plastics in the UK and Europe is still a better option than export abroad for environmental, ethical and legal reasons – particularly for waste electrical equipment.

Commenting on a recent WRAP report which said shipping waste plastic bottles to China was an environmentally-friendly thing to do, Axion endorses the findings but argues that recycling waste plastic locally brings even greater benefits.
Axion Polymers operates the UK’s leading recycling plant for plastics from WEEE with the capacity to save around 3,000 tonnes per month of CO2 emissions for the nation based on current output – equivalent to around 30 million car-driving kilometres per month.

Using similar methodology to the WRAP study, Axion has calculated that collection and recycling of its waste plastic in-feed material generates a total of around 220 kg CO2 per tonne of polymer compound produced. This is only around 7% of the 3,400 kg CO2 produced in making one tonne of virgin polystyrene (as estimated by Plastics Europe). The transport and collection element of Axion’s carbon impact accounts for only about 63 kg of CO2 per tonne of polymer compound produced.

Roger Morton, Director, agrees with WRAP’s view that recycling, wherever it takes place, is much better from   
 a carbon point of view than landfill or incineration.

However he comments that it still makes even more sense to do the reprocessing close to the waste source in the UK as this saves yet more carbon and more importantly, ensures that any residues from the recycling process are disposed of responsibly at home rather than exported to another country.

“This is particularly true for WEEE, which contains complex mixtures of materials and additives,” he says. “While there is a carbon saving from shipping surplus plastic overseas for recycling compared to landfilling or incinerating it in the UK, by recycling this material at home, producers of plastic waste save even more carbon and can be confident that they have discharged their duty of care for its ethical disposal under UK-controlled legislative standards.”

“This has to be the most sustainable solution for the recovery and preservation of valuable resources for our home markets,” adds Roger.

Keith Freegard, Director, also comments on the benefits of close-to-source recycling of waste, saying:

“It is clear that by concentrating the waste material into useful output product such as high-grade polymer resin, the exported tonnage is then more densely packed into shipping containers and this consists entirely of material that will be converted into saleable goods. The potential CO2 impact of shipping a large proportion of unwanted waste, which is then disposed in uncontrolled ways such as open incineration, is incalculable.”

As Roger notes, many polymer companies are now becoming increasingly committed to improving their carbon impact. Axion Polymers are experiencing a growing interest in their material from an expanding number of large polymer companies across Europe, who are looking to blend recycled polymers such as Axpoly® with virgin polymers in order to reduce their environmental impact. 
 

Recovinyl is forecasting another record-breaking year with more than 50,000 tonnes of PVC set to be recycled by the end of 2008. This easily beats the 42,162 tonnes registered for

Recovinyl is forecasting another record-breaking year with more than 50,000 tonnes of PVC set to be recycled by the end of 2008. This easily beats the 42,162 tonnes registered for 2007 and reflects the increasing awareness of the need to recycle waste rigid plastic and the growth of the recycling infrastructure in this country, according to Recovinyl’s UK agent Axion Recycling.

Axion’s Commercial Director Roger Morton says it’s a fantastic achievement that demonstrates the PVC industry’s continuing commitment to sustainability and promoting its environmental credentials, such as the closed loop recycling of the material into new plastic building products. The scheme’s ongoing success has been helped by industry-wide campaigns, such as PVCaware.org and Fighting Back With Facts, that have been set up secure a prosperous future for PVC.

Contributory factors to the rising recycling rate also include growth in volumes of post-consumer windows being recycled and investment in new plant and equipment by many of Recovinyl’s 29 recyclers throughout the UK.

“As well as diverting PVC from landfill, recycling preserves natural resources with associated savings in energy and provides a significant reduction in carbon emissions compared to using virgin polymer,” says Roger. “Manufacturing a new building product from recycled PVC-U saves 94% of CO2 emissions compared to production using virgin PVC polymer.”

“Judging by the level of enquiries we have received from businesses wanting to recycle their waste PVC, we expect recycling rates to break new records again by the end of the year. We can put companies in touch with their nearest collection and recycling services that can help them save on disposal costs for their waste plastic,” he continues.

Axion calculated that the 40,000+ tonnes of end of life PVC that were recycled through the Recovinyl scheme last year will have saved more than 71,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. This is because the majority of this material will have been used in applications that directly substitute virgin polymer, for example cladding and cavity closers.

“We welcome the increasing use of 100% recycled PVC-U in new building products that clearly demonstrates the material’s sustainability and ability to be recycled many times without loss of performance,” adds Roger.

Recovinyl is also working with manufacturers who are keen to include high grade recycled content in their products, such as the DIY and computer sectors for example.

Record high oil and metal prices may mean in future it will be more profitable, and environmentally more responsible, for Western countries to ‘mine’ resources close

Record high oil and metal prices may mean in future it will be more profitable, and environmentally more responsible, for Western countries to ‘mine’ resources close at home in their own waste streams, according to Axion Recycling.

Axion argues that processing the WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) waste stream at home, rather than exporting it overseas, is the most sustainable and cost-effective solution for all; particularly given the world-leading capability in the UK recycling sector to handle it.

Roger Morton’s comments follow a recent article in The Guardian highlighting serious health and environmental problems in West Africa caused by the alleged illegal dumping of thousands of discarded computers from Europe and the US.

“Treating this valuable waste stream at home ensures responsible treatment close to the point of waste generation, thereby protecting people overseas from the damaging effects of its irresponsible treatment in developing countries. This waste stream is rich in valuable materials, particularly specialist metals such as copper and engineering plastics.

“Crucially, it also conserves resources in the UK and reduces our dependence on unstable areas of the world where much of the primary raw materials come from, especially given the recent phenomenal price increases in these commodities” asserts Roger Morton, Axion’s Commercial Director.

Stronger enforcement of waste export legislation would prevent much of this waste going overseas when it could be responsibly treated here by UK recyclers with the technology and skills to do so.

The company’s Axion Polymers division produces high quality branded polymers from mixed small WEEE, and waste fridge and monitor plastic at its state-of-the-art processing plant in Salford. The polymers are supplied to UK and European-based companies for use in a wide range of new sheet-extruded and injection-moulded products. Multi-million pound investment in sophisticated separation techniques is improving recyclate yields, helping to boost re-processing capacity in the UK.

About two tonnes of crude oil are needed to make one tonne of a typical plastic, such as polyethylene. At around $135 a barrel for crude, the crude oil content of one tonne of plastic is therefore about £950 per tonne before any refining or processing costs are added. Current selling prices for finished plastics are around this level, but are bound to rise in the long term as oil cost stays high.

In October 2007 with funding from WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), Axion, together with four leading manufacturers of PVC flooring: Tarkett, Polyflor, Altro and

In October 2007 with funding from WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), Axion, together with four leading manufacturers of PVC flooring: Tarkett, Polyflor, Altro and Gerflor, undertook a 6 month trial to pilot the collection and recycling of post-use vinyl flooring.

During the trial, a total of 25 tonnes of material was collected in 3 months from a wide range of projects including retail construction sites, hospitals, distributors and individual flooring contractors.

The scheme was well received by both construction companies and individual flooring contractors and the success of the trial has led to the launch of a permanent collection scheme for all types of vinyl flooring in the UK.

Jane Gardner, Project Leader, explains how the scheme works:

“The scheme has now been extended to all types of vinyl flooring including safety flooring off-cuts.”

“We have established 3 recycling centres in the UK for the reprocessing of vinyl flooring – Polyflor in Manchester, Tarkett in Kent and Altro in Letchworth. “

“Different collection methods are being trialled as part of the scheme. Wherever possible, flooring will be picked up using a backload system. If a participating manufacturer is delivering straight into a site or direct to a flooring contractor, then at the same time, they will collect post-use flooring and transport it back to the recycling centre. Alternatively, it may be possible to arrange an individual collection.”

In addition to individual flooring contractors, under the new scheme, material will be collected from:

Flooring distributors
Waste Transfer Stations
Construction sites

In the original trial, the main issue was the contamination of the material with general waste.  For the purposes of the scheme, material will be collected in clearly-labelled bulk bags and clear plastic bags.

Axion is looking for distributors who would agree to have wheelie bins/bags on site, so that flooring contractors can drop off off-cuts or uplifted flooring when they come to collect new material.

In order to be both economical and environmentally-friendly, the minimum collection will be 500 kg.

For further details or to arrange collection of your materials, contact Jane Gardner Tel: +44 161 355 7618 email: team@axionrecycling.com

Axion Polymers is a double award-winner – scooping prizes within a week in both the prestigious Plastics Industry Awards and the North West Business Awards for its pioneering

Axion Polymers is a double award-winner – scooping prizes within a week in both the prestigious Plastics Industry Awards and the North West Business Awards for its pioneering work in environmental and plastics recycling initiatives.

On June 20, Axion Polymers won the Award for Best Environmental Programme in the annual PIA Awards organised by Plastics and Rubber Weekly. This was awarded for the company’s successful development of a unique process for the recycling of WEEE plastics at its advanced Salford processing plant, which could deliver maximum environmental and economic benefit from the input material waste stream.

Six days later, the company’s innovative business approach to the environment won again with success in the North West Business Awards. The Environmental Innovation Award recognises excellence in the development and deployment of new and existing environmental technologies, processes and techniques, as well as collaboration between other businesses and research bodies.

Axion’s jubilant directors Keith Freegard and Roger Morton are delighted with their successes, saying:

“We are very happy and proud that our team have won both these awards, which represent how valuable our unique business is to the plastics industry and recognise the contribution that plastics recycling is making in reducing environmental impact in the UK.

“We’d also like to thank our whole team for their continued high level of effort and enthusiasm in helping to make the business a huge success.”

Commenting on the PIA award which he received at a ceremony at London’s Park Lane Hilton Hotel, Axion’s Technical Director, Keith says:

“This national award is an excellent recognition point for us, particularly up against the big name producers. It’s a huge feather in our cap and we see it as  another milestone on our road to future success.”

Winning the North West Business Award highlights an important local focus on recycling, says Keith, adding:

“Waste fridges are collected locally in the North West area and undergo primary treatment at a St Helens WEEE plant. The shredded fridge plastic comes to our Salford plant where it is turned into a high grade polymer for re-use in new parts for washing machines manufactured in Rhyl, North Wales.

“This demonstrates how the Axion process has delivered a technological solution to a waste recycling problem, while simultaneously satisfying the needs of the end-user market for the closed-loop recyclate product. It proves that local closed-loop recycling is the way forward!”

Axion Polymers’ state-of-the-art factory processes waste plastics from WEEE primary treatment plants into high-grade polymers. Axion’s innovative system uses over 13 individual sorting and separation stages, which combine to form a continuous process plant that can handle a dirty, co-mingled waste stream from shredded electrical equipment and upgrade the material into an extremely high grade polymer - Axpoly®.
 

The BRE (British Research Establishment) has published its Green Guide to Specification 2008. The Green Guide gives guidance to designers and specifiers on selecting construction

The BRE (British Research Establishment) has published its Green Guide to Specification 2008. The Green Guide gives guidance to designers and specifiers on selecting construction materials and components with the best environmental credentials. The Guide covers all planned building categories including commercial, education, health, industrial, retail, and domestic. It also includes all planned building elemental categories of external walls, internal walls, upper floors, ground floors, roofs, landscaping, windows and thermal insulation.

The environmental impact of the materials and components are calculated across their entire life-span and each material or component is awarded a rating on a scale from A+ - the best environmental performance/least environmental impact to E – the worst environmental performance/most environmental impact.

PVC windows have been achieved top ratings in the Green Guide gaining A+ for commercial windows and A for domestic windows. Tim Marsden of the BPF comments: “We are delighted with the ratings. This is a huge step forward for the industry. PVC-U windows have an essential role to play in sustainable construction, which the Green Guide has now acknowledged.”

“The British Plastics Federation (BPF) Business Groups have been very active in providing information to the BRE during its recent consultation phase and it is thanks to the continued and combined efforts of the Groups, that we are now seeing the benefits of PVC in the public arena” continues Tim.

Tim acknowledges that increases in PVC recycling, particularly through the Recovinyl scheme has helped to secure these A grades: “For the PVC industry especially, these results really go to show that the PVC industry’s Voluntary Commitment, Vinyl 2010, is bearing fruit in terms of efficiency gains during manufacturing, whilst also seeing Recovinyl register significant increases in post-consumer PVC recycling, with the UK achieving over 42,100 tonnes in 2007 – leading the way within Europe.”

The BRE Green Guide to Specification is available at www.thegreenguide.org.uk

Or call the BRE Green Guide Helpdesk +44 (0) 1923 664462

Axion has launched a new laboratory testing service which provides comprehensive, low cost, polymer sample testing and analysis using its wide range

Axion has launched a new laboratory testing service which provides comprehensive, low cost, polymer sample testing and analysis using its wide range of advanced testing equipment.

Recent changes in legislation such as REACH and the Waste Framework Directive have led to stringent demands from customers to identify polymer types, to understand the additive content of plastics and to test new sources of raw material supply. Plastics recyclers in particular have an increased need to be knowledgeable about polymer types and additive content and this can only be determined by thorough and detailed laboratory analysis. It is no longer acceptable to place goods on the market with a rough verbal indication of the polymer type or to claim ignorance about the levels of any undesirable additives. The sale of recycled plastics is changing from an environment of ‘buyer beware’ to one where the customer has the right to demand detailed specification and material data sheets concerning the product being supplied and the supplier has a legal obligation under REACH to supply this data and also specify the possible safe applications for the material.

Axion’s state-of-the-art laboratory services will identify polymer type, establish the presence of key elements within the material and measure the physical properties of samples as small as 1 kilogram. Assistance can also be provided with the preparation of material data safety sheets for recycled polymers. Axion can propose statistically rigorous sampling methods from bulk material streams based on industry recognised standards.
Axion can pre-test potential new sources of polymer feedstocks before you invest time, effort and money in full scale production trials. Its pilot-scale facility can duplicate a full-scale process from raw material separation right through to injection moulding of finished polymer resin.

Axion can offer:

• Polymer type identification by FTIR
• Sieve analysis
• Additive analysis by x-ray
• Tensile testing
• Impact testing
• Melt-flow index
• Density analysis
• Sample compounding
• Ash content
• Manual sorting

Please contact Mike Bennett, Mark Keenan or Steve Bell at Axion Polymers on +44 161 737 6124
or email lab@axionpolymers.com to discuss your requirements and for price quotations.

Download:

Laboratory Services Brochure

Laboratory Services Pricelist

According to new calculations by Axion Recycling, manufacturing new building products from recycled PVC-U has about 6% of the global warming

According to new calculations by Axion Recycling, manufacturing new building products from recycled PVC-U has about 6% of the global warming impact of using virgin polymer – offering significant environmental and raw material cost-saving benefits and strengthening the argument for greater use of recyclate in new items, such as PVC-U window and door profiles.

“An added benefit is that manufacturers can develop products to attract ‘eco-conscious’ consumers, as well as save on escalating raw material costs given the current record oil prices,” says Roger Morton, Axion’s Commercial Director.

Axion came to its conclusion on the global warming impact of collecting and recycling end-of-life PVC using updated information from DEFRA on CO2 emissions and data on power consumption and other energy uses at a typical UK PVC recycling facility.

Collecting and mechanically recycling one tonne of recovered PVC, which can directly substitute virgin polymer in a new application, will generate about 120 kg CO2 per tonne of PVC recycled. The latest eco-profile data from Plastics Europe for virgin PVC indicates that producing one tonne of virgin PVC from its primary raw materials (salt and oil) will generate about 1,900 kg of CO2 emissions. Using the recycled PVC chip therefore creates a 94% saving in CO2 emissions compared to production of virgin PVC polymer.

Most recycled PVC can be re-used as a clean chip to substitute virgin polymer so there are fewer melting costs. This helps to reduce the carbon impact of the recycled material compared to virgin.

The 40,000 tonnes of end of life PVC that were recycled through Recovinyl in the UK during 2007 will have saved up to 71,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions because the majority of this material will have been used in applications that directly substitute virgin polymer.

Roger says the carbon credentials of even virgin PVC are better than for other polymer types. “The carbon impact of making new PVC-U is lower than for other types of polymer because it is made partly from salt and partly from oil. Most other polymer types are made entirely from oil. Another advantage is that PVC is a long-life material that can be recycled up to ten times without any loss in performance, making it ideal for use in new building products such as window and door profiles, fascias and soffits.

“The technology exists to produce building products made from 100% recycled PVC-U, allowing the UK construction industry to demonstrate a truly sustainable way forward,” adds Roger.

Discrepancies in recently published collection data reveal that vast quantities of UK WEEE could literally

Discrepancies in recently published collection data reveal that vast quantities of UK WEEE could literally be going to ‘waste’ rather than being collected as a useful resource for reprocessing, claims Axion Recycling.

Revised figures issued by the Environment Agency for the collection of waste electrical and electronic equipment has prompted Axion to air concerns that tens of thousands of tonnes of WEEE could either be mixed into the normal waste stream going to landfill, or sent overseas, rather than being responsibly recycled.

Given the current climate of heightened environmental awareness, coupled with record oil and raw material prices, it is vital that greater attention must be paid to the efficient recovery of a valuable and sought-after material, argues Keith Freegard, Technical Director of Axion Recycling.

“The situation is confused. I’m concerned that the figures suggest much of this waste, particularly hard-to-recycle co-mingled plastic from small household WEEE, is being sent overseas where I doubt it can be reprocessed to our equivalent standards,  particularly for the separate removal of brominated flame retardants” he says.

His comments come after reported volumes from Producers show that around 800,000 tonnes of new E & E household goods were put on the market in the six months from July to December 2007. This vast tonnage of new E & E products would tend to confirm estimates of at least one million tonnes per year arising as ‘waste’ at end-of-life, even if only half of the new purchases is related to the disposal of an equivalent WEEE item.

“However, the last quarterly collection figures show only 83,500 tonnes collected from the household sector. This equates to about 330,000 tonnes a year - only a third of original annual estimates. So where is the rest
of this waste going?” asks Keith.

The increase in WEEE collected from smaller items of equipment is also ‘disappointing’. Keith says: “Given that some of the biggest contributors to collected  WEEE tonnages, such as CRT displays and fridges were already being recycled under previous legislation, the marginal increase is disappointing. Only about 15% of the 83,000 tonnes comes from WEEE categories other than LHA, refrigerators or displays.”

Axion’s market knowledge suggests that much of the plastic derived from the treatment of this collected material is either being exported or stockpiled. “Based on our experience of WEEE dismantling across all the categories, there should be around 15,000 tonnes of shredded plastic material being passed from primary treatment plants to approved reprocessors from the reported 83,000 tonnes collected in the October to December period.

“We know how much has been through our Salford factory in that period and there are currently not many other UK-based WEEE plastics reprocessors. So the majority of this volume must be going overseas – perhaps as much as 10,000 tonnes – or being stockpiled at AATF primary treatment sites,” he continues.

“If this is so, and given that the technology exists in the UK to process the plastics from mixed household WEEE, then this represents a tremendous waste of resources. Questions remain over whether the WEEE Directive will actually deliver what it was originally designed to do. That is good quality, high volume recycling with removal of the undesirable hazards to protect the environment and recovery of high grade materials to be re-used in the manufacture of new products.”

Axion’s purpose-built facility at Salford is one of the most advanced processing plants in Europe and produces high-grade polymers from mixed small WEEE, fridge and monitor plastic. Recent £500,000 investment in more sophisticated separation techniques is improving the yield of high-grade plastic material from mixed small WEEE. The new plant has also helped to boost much-needed re-processing capacity for the material within the UK, thus helping to reduce its export abroad.
 

Mark Burstall, Head of the BPF’s Recycling Council is advising plastics recyclers to prepare to pre-register substances they are handling in order to comply with REACH

Mark Burstall, Head of the BPF’s Recycling Council is advising plastics recyclers to prepare to pre-register substances they are handling in order to comply with REACH (Registration, Evaluation & Authorisation of Chemicals) legislation. As Mark explains:

“The current advice from the Recycling Council is that recyclers will need to consider pre-registering any monomers in the polymers they handle, as well as any other substances that they are aware of, e.g. stabilizers or performance enhancers, fillers, flame retardants etc. In the case of PVC, this will include cadmium and lead stabilizers.  They do not need to pre-register any additives that they buy and add during their process.”

“Currently it is not clear whether recyclers will have to complete full registration for all substances. It is possible that there will be some form of intervention and recyclers may still benefit from exemption from the registration process.”

However, as a precaution, the Recycling Council is urging its members to prepare for pre-registration. Mark continues:

“At this stage we need to start preparing for pre-registration but as yet, we don’t know if we will eventually have to go through to registration for these substances. Therefore, we are advising recyclers not to actually pre-register until the last minute, sometime in November, because there is the possibility that the situation may change and recyclers may not be required to go through this process. The advice to recyclers is to start thinking about what you’ve got. Make a list, establish what the CAS and EINECS reference numbers are for each substance and get that list prepared. This will not be wasted effort because that information will be required for data safety sheets anyway.”

Pre-registration will effectively ‘buy time’ for recyclers as pre-registered substances will benefit from extended registration periods – 2010, 2013 & 2018.

It is important to note that if it emerges that registration is required, but substances have not been pre-registered, then recyclers will not be able to sell material containing these substances from 2nd December 2008 until the process of registration has been completed.

Pre-registration cannot be carried out by industry bodies, it can only be done by individual recyclers. The EuPR (European Plastics Recyclers) is drawing up detailed guidance about the pre-registration process, what to do and how to go about doing it. This will be circulated to all members including all members of the Recycling Council in plenty of time.

If you are not a member of the Recycling Council, you can join by contacting Mark Burstall:
email: mark@burstall.freeserve.co.uk  tel: 01295 670497
 

Axion Polymers is now producing general purpose polypropylene at its state of the art factory in Salford. Axion has developed processes to enable it to recycle small items of waste

Axion Polymers is now producing general purpose polypropylene at its state of the art factory in Salford. Axion has developed processes to enable it to recycle small items of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) to produce the polypropylene. Notoriously difficult to recycle, small WEEE is now being successfully recycled by the company.

Martin Green, Sales Manager comments:

“We are very excited to be able to offer this popular material. The relatively high melt flow of 25 makes this product particularly suitable for injection moulding applications.”

PP01 series polypropylenes offer the designer and processor a high performance polymer with well-defined properties in a range of options to suit many applications.

The Axpoly® PP01 range of custom compounds are processed to a high purity and give consistent material properties during moulding.

Axpoly® is available in 1 tonne polyester big bags on a pallet, other formats possible on request. All grades are assessed to ISO Standards, are ROHS compliant and REACH ready.

Download the Safety Data Sheet:

Axpoly Grade PP06 5001

 

Eric Criel, European director of Recovinyl will be addressing the PVC 2008 conference next month, in Brighton. The 3 day conference is the largest and most well known of its kind.

Eric Criel, European director of Recovinyl will be addressing the PVC 2008 conference next month, in Brighton. The 3 day conference is the largest and most well known of its kind. Organised on behalf of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, the conference is supported by the British Plastics Federation (BPF), the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM) and the Packaging and Films Association (PAFA). Day 1 will set the global PVC scene, with keynote speakers including Lord Taverne and other internationally renowned experts.  Day 2 and day 3 will be made up of a series of parallel sessions run in 3 venues. The conference programme includes:

    * Strategy/direction and markets
    * Profiles
    * Pipes and fittings
    * Plastisols and flexible areas
    * Processing technology
    * Heat stabilisation and lubrication
    * Additives - property modifiers, fillers, flame retardants, pigments and plasticizers
    * Sustainability
    * Recovery and recycling
    * Polymerisation and production


Eric Criel will present the Recovinyl scheme in a session entitled: “Recovinyl: A concept to Stimulate the Collection and the Recycling of Post-Consumer PVC”. The session will form one of the ‘Recovery and Recycling’ sessions held on Thursday 24th April. Other sessions include: ‘Where in the world can you Recycle Vinyl Flooring’ presented by Pete Thomas of Tarkett Ltd and ‘PVC recycling in Japan’ by Y Kano and S Seki, two members of the Japanese Vinyl Environmental council.

Details of the sessions and registration details can be downloaded from:
www.eventsforce.net/iom/frontend/reg/thome.csp

Stronger promotional links between local authorities and private sector companies can really help to make a positive difference to improving

Stronger promotional links between local authorities and private sector companies can really help to make a positive difference to improving household recycling levels, according to the results of a project carried out by Axion Recycling.

An average 5.2% increase in household recycling rates over and above forecast levels was reported across 13 participating councils following a unique joint initiative with ‘Coca-Cola’. It is thought to be the first time a major manufacturer has taken such an innovative approach to use its influence and well-known branding to inspire recycling behaviour.

The 12-week ‘Talent from Trash’ campaign, which ended last November, targeted young male football fans and their families employing their love of football as a means of motivating them to recycle and earn money for their clubs’ youth development programmes.

Axion’s team managed specific aspects of the ‘Coca-Cola’ campaign where the consultancy’s experience of waste management and of working with private companies, local authorities and public sector organisations to develop recycling was directly relevant to the programme.

A total of 13 local authorities and their local Football League clubs across England and Wales took part in the three-month scheme, which also included participation surveys assessing the recycling habits of a whole community through a representative sample of over 1,000 households in each area.

Axion’s project team then measured the results of the programme in two ways; through the percentage increase in tonnes of recyclable material collected and the increase in the number of households participating in recycling collections during the period.
“Overall, an average 5.2% increase in recycling tonnage was achieved, representing an additional 6,378 tonnes, which is very positive,” comments Roger Morton, Axion’s Commercial Director. “The project achieved its aims of raising awareness of the tangible benefits of recycling in line with Government targets, as well as highlighting the local authority collection schemes in each area.”

“Crucially, it has also forged on-going links between local authorities and their local Football League clubs as they have recognised the opportunities to work together to promote recycling. This is a very significant legacy outcome and the campaign’s success demonstrates how the public and private sector can really make a difference to recycling rates in both practical and imaginative ways,” adds Roger. “Projects are also being developed with other local councils, such as Cardiff, looking at waste composition surveys to help determine their future recycling strategies.”

One of the most successful participating clubs was Accrington Stanley FC, whose local area saw a 19% increase in recycling over the three months compared to the same period in 2006. This beat forecast targets by 15%.

The campaign has also achieved lasting success in Norfolk, as Andrew Cullen, Marketing Manager for Norwich City FC, explains: “Following the conclusion of the campaign we met with Norfolk Waste Partnership to understand how we could work more closely together for the benefit of the community. We will attend their Recycling Officers Group Meetings where we look forward to learning more and identifying opportunities so that Talent from Trash has a lasting legacy in Norfolk,” he adds.

Liz Lowe, Citizenship Manager at Coca-Cola Great Britain says: “’Talent from Trash’ was a tangible step forward to demonstrate our commitment to encourage customers to recycle more. It’s been a genuine learning experience and we are heartened by the response from fans, clubs and local authorities. We have seen the positive effect that a brand like ‘Coca-Cola’ can have in making recycling more relevant to a hard-to-reach audience.”

“Working with 13 councils, with 13 different recycling collection strategies, has undoubtedly been challenging, but this initiative is helping inform our plans for 2008. The partnership approach will be at the heart of this.”
 

New legislation requiring Site Waste Management Plans for construction and demolition projects will be a great opportunity for Recovinyl recyclers, claims Jane Gardner, Axion

New legislation requiring Site Waste Management Plans for construction and demolition projects will be a great opportunity for Recovinyl recyclers, claims Jane Gardner, Axion Recycling. Site Waste Management Plans, mandatory from 6th April 2008 for all construction and demolition projects worth over £300,000, are aimed at reducing illegal fly tipping and encouraging recycling.

Site Waste Management Plans will force companies to look for outlets for recyclables. Under this new legislation construction companies have to record the type and quantity of waste that has been reused, recycled, sent to landfill or otherwise disposed of. They will have to know what the Waste Transfer Station is doing with the waste.  This is a very good opportunity for recyclers to market the fact that they can collect post use PVC for recycling. PVC will be one of the materials in which there will be increased interest as construction companies will have to be aware of it and consider how they will deal with it. Any waste generated on a construction site has to be handled according to the plan. It is the duty of the main contractor to check that all subcontractors know where the plan is kept on site and that they comply with it and deal with the waste responsibly, so proving that it is recycled. This legislation is relevant for all Recovinyl members – window companies, Waste Transfer Stations and recyclers.

The legislation should help to stimulate the market for recycled building products. Even before the Site Waste Management Plan is drafted, construction and demolition companies will have to record any decision taken on the nature of the project, its design, construction method or materials employed in order to minimise the quantity of waste produced on site. Jane comments: ”So it will also be important that they use materials with recycled content . If any recyclers have an application for their PVC that can be used on construction sites, this will be another selling point for them.”

Read details of the legislation at www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080314_en_1

New legislation, due to come into force by April 2008, will require construction and demolition companies to have a Site Waste Management Plan for

New legislation, due to come into force by April 2008, will require construction and demolition companies to have a Site Waste Management Plan for all projects over £250,000. Designed to combat illegal fly tipping and to encourage recycling, the regulations will force companies to make detailed plans for the waste generated by each project, including details of how this plan will be implemented. During the project, companies will be required to keep detailed records and will need to monitor and evaluate their Site Waste Management Plan. Failure to comply with the new legislation could result in fines or even a criminal conviction.

Axion has launched a new service providing a comprehensive solution for companies’ site waste plans. On behalf of construction and demolition companies, Axion can produce a Site Waste Management Plan that will fully comply with the new legislation.  Axion is offering a ‘total solution’, including writing the plan,  carrying out a waste audit, managing the waste and organising the collection and recycling of different waste streams, and monitoring and evaluating the plan.

Alternatively, Axion can advise on, or implement, a particular aspect of the plan such as finding suitable outlets for recycling certain waste streams or it can evaluate a company’s own plan. Jane Gardner, project leader, is enthusiastic about this new service. As she comments: “So far we have had very positive feedback from construction companies and there is a lot of interest in this service. Proving particularly popular is the fact that we can offer companies an advice hotline for the duration of each project, providing advice on materials that have been traditionally difficult to recycle and finding outlets for those materials. Recently a company contacted us to find out where they could recycle a rubber running track. We can put companies in touch with reliable waste management companies anywhere in the UK”

As part of the service, Axion can liaise with individual contractors on a project to ensure that their waste is recycled and that the routes used are traceable. As Jane notes: “In order to be able to claim that waste has been recycled, the legislation requires companies to specify exactly where it has gone.  We can provide these traceable routes. Axion is well placed to launch this service. People like the fact that between them, our consultants can offer over 100 years of practical experience in the waste management industry.”

For further information, contact Jane Gardner
tel: 0161 426 7731
email team@axionrecycling.com

The Epwin group has produced a PVC-U window made entirely from recycled PVC. Due to be unveiled this month at the Ecobuild exhibition (Earls Court Feb 26-28th), the group are claiming

The Epwin group has produced a PVC-U window made entirely from recycled PVC. Due to be unveiled this month at the Ecobuild exhibition (Earls Court Feb 26-28th), the group are claiming a ‘world-first’. The window has been manufactured solely from post-consumer waste, collected and processed by its recycling operation, Recovinyl recycler, Dekura.

The waste has been recovered from a social housing refurbishment project where old, single-glazed first generation PVC-U windows were being replaced. Producing a new window from the recovered material posed a number of technological challenges including the successful removal of all contaminants including wood, concrete, sealants and paint. Using the latest technology, Dekura recycled the waste and a polymer of near virgin quality was produced.

David Wrigley technical director at the Epwin group said: “PVC-U in itself is hugely recyclable, in fact research suggests it can be recycled up to 10 times without losing performance – based on a BRE recognised lifespan of 35 to 40 years and each product could have an overall lifecycle of up to 400 years.”

Dekura has invested in sophisticated technology, providing an advanced processing system capable of recycling a range of end-of-life, first generation PVC-U building products. David outlines the process:

“Post-consumer waste is first processed in our size reduction equipment. Once broken down, powerful magnets remove and separate out ferrous metals. Following further manual inspection, shakers help to sort material sizes ready for shipment for reprocessing. This begins with more refined processing to remove any remaining debris, for example tiny fragments of metal or rubber.”

“This is followed by colour sorting. The equipment used to do this is incredibly advanced and can be calibrated to pick out even the slightest variation between individual fragments. This completes the process and the material is ready to be compounded into pellets or pulverised material ready for use in a new generation of advanced products.”

Epwin’s fully-recycled PVC-U window is a great example of ‘closed loop’ recycling. As David Wrigley comments: “PVC-U is now sustainable in the truest sense. Old products can be recycled, reprocessed and recovered material used in a new generation of advanced sustainable and energy efficient products.”

For further information email Dekura: enquiries@dekura.co.uk or tel:  0800 652 7585.
 

Axion Polymers has developed a new flame retardant impact styrene formulation with high recycled content following successful laboratory trials.

Axion’s new WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) funded trial to prove the recyclability of PVC flooring has got off to a great start with material now being collected

Axion’s new WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) funded trial to prove the recyclability of PVC flooring has got off to a great start with material now being collected from many sites across the UK. As Jane Gardner, Axion’s Project Leader for the scheme comments: “We are now collecting post-use material from over forty three different projects including construction and demolition projects as well as collecting directly from flooring contractors and distributors.”

Jane is anticipating accumulating large volumes of uplifted flooring from many of these projects. As she comments: “We have collected several tonnes of material already and the potential yield at some of these sites is impressive. For example, post-use uplifted flooring is being collected from a whole ward refurbishment at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, the demolition of a major retail site in Wembley High Road, London and the refurbishment of a large department store. Off-cuts are being collected from flooring installations at 9 new stores – part of the expansion of a well known major retailer.”

Construction and demolition companies have shown a keen interest in the scheme. As Jane explains: “We have had a particularly good response from construction companies who are members of the Considerate Construction Scheme and this has resulted in several new collection sites for the collection of uplifted flooring. Companies such as General Demolition and Wates Retail (part of the Wates Group) have been very co-operative, as have Morgan Ashurst who are carrying out the Addenbrookes Hospital ward refurbishment.”

The material is collected either in bulk bags, drop-front refurbished wheelie bins or skips, depending on the most appropriate collection option for the site.

Overall, the project is aiming to collect at least 30 tonnes of material by the end of March 2008, in order to demonstrate that recycling PVC flooring is economically viable. Jane is confident that this target will be exceeded. As she comments: “We have found that there is a lot of material out there to be collected. This is already a key result of this trial. Production trials to recycle the material will begin in February.”

Collected material will be used in recycling trials by Polyflor, Altro and Tarkett Marley, 3 of the UK’s leading flooring manufacturers and incorporated into both new flooring and other long-life applications outside the flooring sector.

Contact Jane Gardner 0161 426 7731 email:jgardner@axionrecycling.com

Axion Polymers has achieved ISO 9001:2000 quality management accreditation covering all aspects of recycling operations at its £3 million

Axion Polymers has achieved ISO 9001:2000 quality management accreditation covering all aspects of recycling operations at its £3 million state-of-the-art Salford processing facilities.

The plant is one of the most advanced recycling facilities in Europe and uses a unique recycling process to handle the polymer waste stream produced by the primary treatment of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment).

Fully opened from February, the plant can take co-mingled plastic waste containing various contaminants and convert it into high quality polymer compounds using on-site processing equipment. These high specification polymer resins can be used for new injection-moulded components, ‘closing the loop’ for end-of-life electronics scrap.

Praising the team’s efforts, Axion’s commercial director Roger Morton says: “This was a tremendous achievement, especially as the certification was gained within six months of starting up the plant. The quality framework system covers all aspects of the plant’s operation, from manufacture to supply, and means our customers can be assured of the highest, consistent product quality standards.”

Axion Polymers offers polystyrene and HIPS injection-grade materials based upon raw materials sourced from primary WEEE treatment plants for fridges and televisions. The range of available grades is now growing from a wider variety of input raw materials from mixed household electrical goods and business equipment waste.

Roger adds: “Along with sourcing new supplies of input materials, we are also seeking brand leaders to help develop highly specified compounds that can be used to produce new electrical consumer goods.

“More companies are recognising the benefits of using recyclate in new products that not only improves their products’ ‘green’ credentials, but also saves costs on using virgin polymers.”

Axion have launched a new trial, supported by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), to prove the recyclability of PVC flooring.

Arrangements are in place

Axion have launched a new trial, supported by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), to prove the recyclability of PVC flooring.

Arrangements are in place to collect material from 10 individual flooring projects including distributors, hospitals and retail sites around the UK.  Four major flooring manufacturers have signed up to the project: Tarkett-Marley, Gerflor, Polyflor and Altro.

Jane Gardner, Axion’s Project Leader, explains why the companies have got involved:

“Polyflor, Altro and Tarkett are taking part in order to demonstrate the feasibility of making a commercially viable flooring project with recycled content.  Gerflor do not have a manufacturing base in the UK but are helping us collect material and put us in touch with major projects as members of the Resilient Flooring Association. The project is clearly important to them and they want to support it.”

Hazel Cook, Marketing Manager at Gerflor, is enthusiastic about getting involved in the project. She comments:

“We are delighted to be able to help with the project. We are keenly aware of the need to make it economically viable if it is to succeed.  The economics of the project are as important as environmental concerns in terms of success.”

Hazel praised Axion’s involvement in the scheme. She comments

“We have been impressed with Axion’s willingness to attend joint customer visits. We can promote schemes such as the Recycled Vinyl Flooring Project but people need to be led through the practicalities of how the whole thing is going to work.  That’s where Axion comes in.”

The project aims to collect 30 tonnes of PVC flooring material by the end of February.  Materials included in the scheme are post-installation off-cuts, uplifted flooring and Altro safety flooring off-cuts.

Jane Gardner explains:

“We are trying to demonstrate the feasibility of sustainable collections. We are keen to be put in touch with anyone who is involved in uplifting PVC flooring. If any waste transfer stations receive uplifted PVC flooring in their waste stream, we would be very keen on them separating out that material and we would be very willing to collect it.”

For the duration of the trial, material will be collected free of charge.

Can you help? Please contact Jane Gardner on 0161 427 7731

A series of feasibility trials to encourage small and medium sized businesses to recycle their waste have been launched across the UK, funded by

A series of feasibility trials to encourage small and medium sized businesses to recycle their waste have been launched across the UK, funded by the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

The overall aim of the trials, which will run for six months, is to develop convenient and cost effective services to make it easier for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to recycle.

Forming part of WRAP’s SME Recycling Programme, the trials will assess recycling schemes for the construction and commercial food industries, site-specific services for business parks and industrial estates and collection schemes for small retailers and offices.

The trials will evaluate a range of issues involved in providing SMEs with effective recycling schemes. Factors assessed will include effective ways to recruit SMEs on to recycling services, collection techniques and frequencies and charging mechanisms.

The results will build on the knowledge gained during the first series of trials undertaken last year.

Liz Morrish, WRAP’s SME Recycling Programme Manager, said:

“SMEs cover a vast range of businesses that all have different recycling needs - either because of the relative low quantity of recyclable materials they produce, the space available to store materials or their location. These feasibility trials will give us a much better picture of the kind of recycling services that will work cost effectively for SMEs and therefore encourage these businesses to start recycling their waste.”

Link wrap_corporate/news/wrap_launches_24.html

Axion Polymers’ new state-of-the-art plastics recycling facility in Salford has been purpose built to deal with a range of waste plastic

Axion Polymers’ new state-of-the-art plastics recycling facility in Salford has been purpose built to deal with a range of waste plastic streams, a large proportion of which will be generated from products covered by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive. Axion Polymers will be reprocessing plastics derived from refrigerators, television cases, computer monitor cases, mixed household WEEE, as well as industrial waste plastics such as large bore plastic piping, conduits, crates and stillages. 

Products manufactured from the waste plastics by Axion Polymers will be branded under the name of either AxPoly - technically based polymer compounds specifically formulated to support customer needs, or AxPlas – general purpose recycled polymers for less demanding applications.  AxPoly products will be suitable for use by WEEE manufacturers, providing cost effective alternatives specified to match the performance of virgin polymers. AxPoly products will offer an environmental advantage; being manufactured from traceable recycled polymers. AxPlas products will have a wide range of potential applications such as in the garden products and window industries. 

For further information, please contact Keith Freegard at  Axion Polymers:

Tel : 0161 737 6124    
email: info@axionpolymers.co.uk

Axion is working with three leading flexible flooring manufacturers who have agreed to trial the production of new flooring products with recycled

Axion is working with three leading flexible flooring manufacturers who have agreed to trial the production of new flooring products with recycled content. It is also liaising with a network of installers throughout the country who will collect old flooring and offcuts for recycling.

Jane Gardner, Project Co-ordinator, Axion Recycling explains: “We shall be visiting installers working on major floor projects, whether it’s a big department store, hospital or school, to set up the best options for sustainable collection systems.

“Depending on where they’re based and local collection facilities, these will either be bulk bags or cages to store the offcuts and old flooring material before it is sent for recycling.”

According to Jane, the scheme has the potential to divert tonnes of valuable and recyclable material from landfill and turn it back into new products, thus saving the environment as well as valuable raw materials.

She adds: “Ultimately, we hope the trials will result in a sustainable, nationwide collection system for waste flexible flooring that will provide a consistent stream of material for manufacturers to re-use in a commercially viable product.”

Tarkett-Marley Floors Ltd is taking part in the scheme. Pete Thomas, Environment & Quality Manager at Tarkett-Marley comments: "We are delighted to be members of this project and are committed to increasing both the amount of vinyl flooring which is recovered for recycling and the amount that is actually incorporated back into new floorings."

Installers wishing to take part in the scheme can contact Axion Recycling on 0161 426 7731

Recovinyl members stand to benefit from increased volumes as a result of new legislation governing the disposal of non-hazardous waste. Part of

Recovinyl members stand to benefit from increased volumes as a result of new legislation governing the disposal of non-hazardous waste. Part of the Landfill Directive,  the new legislation comes into place on 30th October 2007, banning the landfill of non-hazardous liquid waste and requiring producers of non-hazardous waste to pre-treat the waste before it is landfilled. Waste can be pre-treated by any of 4 different processes; physical, thermal, chemical or biological to

• reduce its volume or
• reduce its hazardous nature or
• facilitate its handling or
• enhance recovery.

In its guidance to producers, the Environment Agency suggests that recycling will be one of the easiest ways to comply with the Directive, advising collection and separation of individual waste streams to enable recovery.  Waste management companies can carry out treatment on behalf of producers before waste is sent to landfill.

The Environment Agency advises producers that it will be ‘good practice’ to produce documentation that can be incorporated in the waste transfer notes to state the treatment used and the amount of waste sorted for recycling. Currently, landfill operators are responsible for ensuring that only treated waste goes to landfill but the government is considering altering the duty of care regime to include waste producers and holders.

As Roger Morton comments ”The new directive will act as a driver to encourage recycling of a range of waste streams.  A simple and easy way for people to comply with the legislation will be to sort out PVC profiles, flooring, roofing, and cables and ensure they are recycled through the Recovinyl scheme.”

Read the Environment Agency’s Guidance notes at:
publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/GEHO0207BLWJ-e-e.pdf