PVC Recycling

• What is PVC?
• Is PVC recyclable?
• How can PVC be recycled?
• Why is recycling PVC important?

PVC is a thermoplastic polymer that’s naturally white with a rigid yet brittle structure. It’s resistant to environmental degradation, chemicals, and alkalis, has high tensile strength, and is relatively cheap compared to other plastics. PVC has recycling code 3 and is widely available and recyclable. There are two main forms of PVC:

• Rigid or unplasticized polymer (RPVC or uPVC) – used in plumbing, sewage, and agriculture applications, such as for pipes and window frames.
• Flexible plastic (regular PVC) – contains additives of plasticizers like phthalates. Used in electrical wires and flooring for homes, hospitals, and schools. PVC sometimes acts as an effective replacement for rubber.

PVC is recyclable in many forms. It can be reused, regrind, melted, and extruded numerous times. PVC must be recycled separately from other plastic waste and materials due to the high chlorine content in raw PVC and the high levels of hazardous additives the polymer contains, to achieve the desired material quality.

To achieve a good quality of recycling material most PVC waste is mechanically recycled, although some may be chemically processed. PVC has plastic code number 3, so to recycle it at home you should check with your local authority if it’s accepted in your household recycling bin. PVC packaging isn’t often accepted with domestic recycling.

If you can’t recycle PVC at home you can always check if it’s accepted at your local household waste recycling centre (HWRC). Businesses can recycle PVC by arranging commercial waste collection of plastic waste – you can combine PVC with other types of plastic as it’ll be separated at the recycling centre.

Waste PVC is mechanically treated by being ground down into smaller particles to create a clean regrind plastic. These are then either turned into a plastic powder that can be shaped into plastic pellets for reuse or melted and moulded into fresh products (often the same type as the original). As there’s no chemical reaction involved the PVC retains its original composition.

Depending on their application though, PVC products contain different additives, which can mean the recycled PVC’s composition is unpredictable if mixed. Separating PVC from other plastic waste and ideally of a uniform composition creates a higher quality material. Mechanical recycling is best for post-industrial PVC waste rather than consumer waste as it’s more likely to be the same PVC type.

When disposing of PVC plastic from a business it must be removed by licensed waste carriers. You can store any type of waste PVC with other plastic waste on your premises before organising commercial waste collection, as it’ll be sorted at the recycling centre. At Business Waste we can help dispose of your PVC plastic waste responsibly by following these steps:

• Get a free no obligation quote for PVC waste collection and recycling. Simply let us know how many plastic waste bins you need, what size, how often you want them collected, and where from in the UK. Our experts can help if you need a hand.
• Book delivery of free plastic bins to your business – you only pay for collection. Fill each bin within any weight limits or max fill lines with plastic waste, including any type of PVC.
• Move each full plastic waste bin to the agreed collection spot ahead of the removal time. A licensed waste carrier will remove your bins on time and replace them if you’ve organised regular plastic waste collections.
• Your plastic waste will be taken to a nearby waste management centre where it’s checked, sorted, and PVC waste separated. This is moved to a recycling centre for cleaning, further separating by grade, and recycling into new PVC products.
• We’ll provide a free duty of care certificate for each plastic waste load removed to confirm your PVC waste was recycled. Use this as proof that your PVC waste was managed responsibly, legally, and in an environmentally friendly way.

To dispose of domestic PVC waste, you should check with your local authority if plastic code 3 products are accepted in your household recycling bins. If not, see if you can dispose of them at your local HWRC. Otherwise, you can arrange collection of PVC waste from your home with Business Waste to ensure it’s recycled.

Get a free no obligation quote for plastic waste collection (including PVC waste) for recycling with Business Waste. All we need are a few details about the number and size of bins you require, how often you want them collected, and where from in the UK.

We deliver free bins anywhere in the UK to store all sorts of plastic waste together – including PVC. Licensed waste carriers remove your bins and take them to a waste management centre where any PVC is separated and sent for recycling. You can arrange plastic waste collection on a daily, weekly, or fortnightly basis.