Nonmetallics

APR PULLS BACK FROM PVC

The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR), Washington, has declared its efforts to establish “long-term economically viable markets for post-conusmer PVC bottles” as unsuccessful. The organization had been working in cooperation with the Vinyl Institute, Morristown, N.J., to establish those markets.

“We have met numerous times with representatives from the Vinyl Institute, and they have come up empty-handed,” says APR board member Gary Pratt, who is also president of P & R Recycling Industries Inc., Youngsville, N.C. “We are being told that it is not economically feasible to convert PVC bottles into pellets. We say that it is too expensive for us to process PVC bottles only to throw them away. It’s time to tell it like it is: PVC bottles have no place in post-consumer plastic bottle recycling.”

Adds APR manager Robin Cotchan, “The Vinyl Institute had indicated that they would present a solution to our dilemma at our February board meeting, but they didn’t. Our members are doing their job to collect the bottles only to find that they can’t sell them.”

Officials and members of the Vinyl Institute say they will continue independently to find end markets for containers made from PVC resins. “We’re sorry some members of APR feel it’s necessary to discontinue their work with us when we’re so close to having a solution to this problem, but we plan to continue our program to recycle more post-consumer PVC bottles,” says Mark Sofman, manager of industry affairs for the Vinyl Institute.

Sofman says the Institute is working with East Coast Recycling Associates, Millville, N.J. and several flooring manufacturers to develop a tile product that incorporates post-consumer PVC bottles.

RECYCLED DIRECTORIES YIELD AWARD

The recycling of more than 100,000 tons of old telephone books has resulted in an award for U.S. West Dex Inc., Englewood, Colo. The subsidiary of U.S. West Inc. publishes more than 300 White Pages and Yellow Pages directories in 14 western and midwestern states. U.S. West Dex was honored by the nonprofit environmental group Renew America with a National Award for Environmental Sustainability at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The company was one of 25 winners chosen from more than 1,600 applications submitted by nominees  throughout the United States.