PLASTIC PIPES
TEPPFA commits to doubling recycling in Europe by 2020 / Campaign at EU level for special status under REACH and WFD to relax treatment of “legacy substances”
The members of The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA, Brussels / Belgium; www.teppfa.eu) have committed to increase their recycling target to 250,000 t/y by 2020, but warn that European legislation is holding back their efforts. The existing voluntary target is to recycle 120,000 t/y by 2020, outlined in the VinylPlus (www.vinylplus.eu) initiative (see Plasteurope.com of 11.05.2016), but TEPPFA’s members believe they can more than double this, providing obstacles in present EU and national legislation are addressed.
 TEPPFA launches plastic pipe recycling campaign (Photo: Dmitry Naumov/iStockPhoto) |
Under REACH legislation and the Waste Framework Directive (WFD), some additives found in a number of end of life plastics suitable for recycling will be classified as hazardous or harmful to human health or the environment, resulting in them being consigned to incineration or landfill. However, the association says that recent research reports have shown that, under specified conditions, there is no health, safety or environmental risk associated with recycling end of life pipe products containing these “legacy substances”.
Tony Calton, TEPPFA general manager, said: “The problem posed under REACH and WFD is that without amendments being made, more plastic waste will be incinerated and sent to landfill when it can safely be recycled without risk to human health or the environment. Research has shown that none of potentially harmful additives are released during the recycling and pipe manufacturing processes, or during the use phase of the products as they are locked into the matrix of the material.”
TEPPFA is campaigning at EU level for a special status for the recyclable material containing additives, which may now or in the future be covered under REACH and WFD, to allow it to be recycled and not consigned to incineration or landfill – the second and third choices outlined in the European Commission’s Circular Economy Package (see Plasteurope.com of 07.12.2015).
The members of the European plastic pipe association are working to vastly reduce the industry’s environmental impact at a Europe-wide level, committing to a new recycling target that incorporates PVC-u, PE and PP. The commitment is supported by advances in recycling technology, eco-design and the wider availability of suitable recycled material to incorporate into high quality products.
Tony Calton, TEPPFA general manager, said: “The problem posed under REACH and WFD is that without amendments being made, more plastic waste will be incinerated and sent to landfill when it can safely be recycled without risk to human health or the environment. Research has shown that none of potentially harmful additives are released during the recycling and pipe manufacturing processes, or during the use phase of the products as they are locked into the matrix of the material.”
TEPPFA is campaigning at EU level for a special status for the recyclable material containing additives, which may now or in the future be covered under REACH and WFD, to allow it to be recycled and not consigned to incineration or landfill – the second and third choices outlined in the European Commission’s Circular Economy Package (see Plasteurope.com of 07.12.2015).
The members of the European plastic pipe association are working to vastly reduce the industry’s environmental impact at a Europe-wide level, committing to a new recycling target that incorporates PVC-u, PE and PP. The commitment is supported by advances in recycling technology, eco-design and the wider availability of suitable recycled material to incorporate into high quality products.
25.05.2016 Plasteurope.com [234133-0]
Published on 25.05.2016