The results of a new trial in Victoria indicate that advertising banners and billboard material may be recyclable in Australia, avoiding thousands of tonnes of landfill waste.
Flexible sheeting supplier Rojo Pacific together with a Victorian-based recycling operation have completed a trial on recycling vinyl (PVC) coated polyester sheeting which is used widely in the outdoor signage industry. The trial included three collections totaling 1500kg of sheeting.
Traditionally, these materials have been considered difficult to recycle as they consist of a structure of knitted polyester fibre laminated on both sides with PVC film using a light binding chemical under pressure with heat. This provides ideal durability, softness and integrity for use in the printing and signage industry but the composite nature of the materials complicates the recycling process.
The Rojo trial, however, resulted in 80 percent of the PVC separated from the polyester fibre being recovered for recycling into new vinyl products, such as hoses. While the vinyl was found to be readily recyclable, end uses for the polyester fibre are still to be developed.
“We’re pleased with the outcome of this first step in exploring the continued viability of recycling these materials” the recycler said. “In the past, the composite nature of the material was put in the ‘too hard basket’, but we’ve taken a new look at it which holds some hope.”
Rojo Pacific is committed to recycling its product. It recently signed up to the Australian PVC industry’s Product Stewardship Program, a long term, voluntary initiative that addresses the key aspects of the vinyl life cycle. Signatories agree to a series of commitments to improve the environmental performance of PVC products, including development of recycling programs.
“We were pleased the recycler agreed to work with us and these initial results are a great step forward,” said John Wright Managing Director of Rojo Pacific. “However, we know this is only the first step of the journey.”
The next steps are to conduct a larger scale trial and to examine potential collection systems for waste material within Melbourne.
“With some idea of where and how we can recover the PVC sheeting, we can push forward and advance this recycling initiative,” John Wright added.
Vinyl Council of Australia
www.vinyl.org.au
