The document discusses a scoping study on recycling single ply roofing waste, including key findings on the current waste management practices and the potential for a collection and recycling scheme. It highlights the volume of sales and types of waste generated, as well as industry interest in such a scheme due to environmental and operational benefits. The recommendations include improved data collection, a pilot recycling scheme, and exploring funding opportunities to support implementation.

1. SPRA Annual conference
Opportunities for recycling single ply
roofing waste
Jane Gardner
Principal Consultant
June 2016

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

3. 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

4. 508,000 tonnes PVC recycled across Europe 2015
Austria
1%
Belgium
6% Czech Republic
3%
France
14%
Germany
28%
Hungary
1%
Italy
8%
Poland
5%
Romania
1%
Spain
6%
Sweden
1%
The Netherlands
5%
UK
21%

5. PVC recycled in the UK 2005 - 2015
8000
17087
42162 42731
33963
49343 48544
76492
88648
95525
107593
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Tonnes
Year

6. UK data 2015 by application
Profiles
57%
Pipes
6%
Rigid Film
2%
Flexible
9%
Cables
26%

7. 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

8. SPRA study
• Axion Consulting
commissioned to deliver
scoping study
• Potential to establish a
collection and recycling
scheme for single ply roofing
waste

9. 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

10. Key findings
Sales 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
74%
FPO 6%
Other
20%

11. Types of waste
• Production waste
• Damaged and faulty products
• Training waste
• Installation off-cuts
• Stripped membrane

12. How much waste?
Production waste Training waste
Low levels in UK Not recorded
European manufacturing Clean material
Installation 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

13. Current waste management practices
Manufacturers
• Production waste
At various stages of production
Reground or re-used in products
• Training waste
Currently landfilled
• Damaged or faulty products
Returned to manufacturer
Damage removed and used for strapping

14. Current waste management practices
Contractors
• Installation off-cuts
New and refurbishment
projects
Clean material
• Stripped membrane
Refurbishment projects
Dirty and contaminated
Difficult to separate

15. 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

16. Industry views
• Lots of interest in recycling scheme from
manufacturers and contractors
Very positive responses from all
• Key drivers
Divert waste from landfill
Support CSR policies
Sales and marketing benefits

17. Industry views
• Challenges and barriers
Cost implications
Lack of material available
Need to get buy-in from whole supply chain

18. 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

19. Outlets and end markets
• Production waste and
damaged products
Clean material
Opportunity for closed
loop recycling back
into roofing products

20. Outlets and end markets
• Installation off-cuts and stripped membrane
Various outlets
Traffic management
Equestrian surfaces
Acoustic barriers

21. 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

22. Next steps
• Improved data collection
Type and amount of roofing membrane used
Type of projects
Waste production
• Pilot collection and recycling scheme
Trial collection routes
Pilot scheme before roll out
• End markets
Identify and test markets

23. 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 sector
Right time to put in place a system to deal with
increasing waste volumes

24. Thank you for listening

25. Axion Recycling Ltd
Tudor House
Meadway
Bramhall
Stockport
SK7 2DG
Tel : +44 161 426 7731
Fax: +44 161 426 7732
info@axionconsulting.co.uk
Reg. no. 04322117
Companies House, Cardiff