SPRA Annual conferenceOpportunities for recycling single ply roofing waste

Jane GardnerPrincipal Consultant

June 2016

Overview• Background• Objectives of the scoping study• Key findings• How a collection and recycling scheme could work• Next steps

Recovinyl

• Set up to deliver Vinyl Plus controlled loop target Mechanical recycling of 700,000 t/pa by 2020 Operational in 16 European countries

• Operational in the UK since 2005• Axion UK agents

508,000 tonnes PVC recycled across Europe 2015Austria

1%Belgium

6% Czech Republic3%

France14%

Germany28%

Hungary1%

Italy8%

Poland5%

Romania1%

Spain6%

Sweden1%

The Netherlands5%

UK21%

PVC recycled in the UK 2005 - 2015

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 20150

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

800017087

42162 4273133963

49343 48544

76492

8864895525

107593

Year

Tonn

es

UK data 2015 by application

Profiles58%

Pipes7%

Rigid Film2%

Flexible9%

Cables26%

ROOFCOLLECT• European scheme to collect waterproofing membrane for

recycling• Organised by European Single ply Waterproofing

Association• Part of VinylPlus• Collection from construction sites• Collected 3,249 tonnes PVC membrane in 2015

SPRA study• Axion Consulting

commissioned to deliver scoping study

• Potential to establish a collection and recycling scheme for single ply roofing waste

Objectives• Establish volumes of waste• Current waste management practices• Supply chain and logistics network• How a collection and recycling scheme could work• Outlets for material• Interest in a scheme from members

Key findingsSales of single ply membrane (2015)• Total UK market 6.5 million m2 • SPRA members 5.08 million m2

• 8,480 tonnes of material sold• PVC main polymer type

PVC 75%

FPO 6%

Other 20%

Types of waste

• Production waste• Damaged and faulty products• Training waste• Installation off-cuts• Stripped membrane

How much waste?Production waste Training waste

Low levels in UK Not recordedEuropean manufacturing Clean materialInstallation off-cuts Stripped membrane

Estimated 3% waste per job

Lack of data

254,000 kg available Long life product

Mix of materials – mainly PVC

Increasing volumes expected

Current waste management practicesManufacturers• Production waste

At various stages of productionReground or re-used in products

• Training wasteCurrently landfilled

• Damaged or faulty productsReturned to manufacturerDamage removed and used for strapping

Current waste management practices

Contractors• Installation off-cuts

New and refurbishment projectsClean material

• Stripped membraneRefurbishment projectsDirty and contaminatedDifficult to separate

Construction sites• Typically disposed of in mixed waste skips• Provided by main contractor• Costs not covered by roofing contractor• Smaller jobs will be responsible for waste

and costs

Industry views

• Lots of interest in recycling scheme from manufacturers and contractorsVery positive responses from all

• Key driversDivert waste from landfillSupport CSR policiesSales and marketing benefits

Industry views

• Challenges and barriersCost implicationsLack of material availableNeed to get buy-in from whole supply chain

How a scheme could work• Opportunity to use existing

logistics network and supply chain

• Reverse logistics• Bulking at distribution points• Collection from construction

sites• Model used in other sectors

Outlets and end markets• Production waste and

damaged productsClean materialOpportunity for closed

loop recycling back into roofing products

Outlets and end markets

• Installation off-cuts and stripped membraneVarious outletsTraffic managementEquestrian surfacesAcoustic barriers

Case study – Single Ply Services Ltd• North Somerset Council offices in

Clevedon• 1,300 m2 PVC membrane• Strip and renew • ~ 2.5 tonnes of material• Material to be bagged up in bulk

bags• To be transported to Melba

Swintex in Bury for recycling into road cone bases

Next steps• Improved data collection

Type and amount of roofing membrane usedType of projectsWaste production

• Pilot collection and recycling schemeTrial collection routesPilot scheme before roll out

• End marketsIdentify and test markets

Opportunities for funding• Innovate UK – UK’s innovation agency• Various funding programmes and competitions• Part funded projects• Collaborative approach• Materials and Manufacturing opportunity; and• Open funding opportunity• 2 competition rounds per year

Great opportunity for the sectorRight time to put in place a system to deal with

increasing waste volumes

Thank you for listening

Axion Recycling LtdTudor HouseMeadwayBramhallStockportSK7 2DG Tel : +44 161 426 7731Fax: +44 161 426 7732info@axionconsulting.co.uk Reg. no. 04322117Companies House, Cardiff