Polyvinyl Chloride (3)

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is a plastic often used in window frames and is captured as PVC (3) in WikiWaste.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC (3)) is one of the most widely used polymers in the world. Due to its versatile nature, strength and toughness, PVC (3) is used extensively across a broad range of industrial, technical and everyday applications including widespread use in building, transport, packaging, electrical/electronic and healthcare applications[1].

Image

Applications

PVC is a very durable and long lasting material which can be used in a variety of applications (either rigid or flexible), including window frames, drainage pipes, water service pipes, medical devices, blood storage bags, cable and wire insulation, flooring, stationary, automotive interiors and seat coverings, fashion and footwear, packaging, cling film, credit cards, vinyl records, synthetic leather and coated fabrics[1].

It can also be used for stretch wrap for non-food items, sometimes blister packaging.

Non-packaging uses include electrical cable insulation, uPVC window frames and doors, rigid piping and vinyl records.

The first patent for a polymerisation process to manufacture PVC was granted to German inventor Friedrich Klatte in 1913 and PVC has been in commercial production since 1933. The material now accounts for about 20% of all plastic manufactured world-wide, second only to polyethlene (PET (1))[1].

PVC (3) is not recyclable in normal kerbside collection systems, although it is recycled more widely.

Double Glazed Units

Image

Vinyl Gloves

Image

Table Mats

Image

10mm PVC Cable Sleeving

Image

Local Authority Waste

The Top 10 Authorities removing PVC [3]

FY AUTHORITY OPERATOR ADDRESS TONNES
24/25 Carmarthenshire County Council Other/Exempt CWM Environmental Ltd; Nantycaws Waste Management SiteLlanddarog RdNantycawsCarmarthenCarmarthenshire 6,323
24/25 Powys County Council Potter James Edward Potters Yard, Severn Road, Welshpool, Powys 1,869
24/25 Devon County Council SITA UK Punchbowl, South Coombe, Crediton, Devon 1,744
24/25 Swindon Borough Council Swindon Metal Recycling Limited Marshgate Works, Unit B, Marshgate, Swindon, Wiltshire 1,388
24/25 Wrexham CBC Tudor Griffiths Ltd Wood Lane Landfill Site, Wood Lane, Ellesmere, Shropshire 1,177
24/25 Carmarthenshire County Council Other/Exempt Llantrisant Recycling Centre; Llantrisant Recycling Centre LtdPantybrad LanePontyclun 644
24/25 Neath Port Talbot CBC Derwen Plant Ltd Neath Abbey Wharf, Skewen, Neath, Neath Port Talbot 516
24/25 Bridgend CBC Other/Exempt AWD Byass WorksDocks RoadPort Talbot 308
24/25 Neath Port Talbot CBC Other/Exempt AWDEM Edwards WorksLlandarcyNeathSA10 6JY 244
24/25 Cardiff County Council Other/Exempt Project Red RecyclingProject Red Recycling, Efail Isaf, RCTCF38 1BGXB3393HM 243