Research shows that in 2010 more than 25 tons of post consumer PVC were recycled.

Research hired by Instituto do PVC shows that the post consumer PVC recycling rate in Brazil has risen from 14.5% in 2009 to 15.1% in 2010. 25,302 tons were recycled in 2010 compared to 20,693 tons in the previous year, which represents a rise of 22.3%.

The PVC recycling industry in Brazil employs 1,339 people and profits 133 million reais. Its capacity is 73,000 tons and its idle capacity is 59.1%. That clearly shows this industry potential growth. Nevertheless, “that development is linked to the enhancement of post consumer waste selective collection systems”, states Miguel Bahiense, President of Instituto do PVC. Brazil has more than 5,500 municipalities and around 8% of them have some kind of selective collection system.

The research also shows that the PVC to be recycled comes from different sources. In 2009, out of all the amount recycled, 72,9% referred to post consumer waste and 27.1% referred to industrial waste, while in 2010, the figures were 84,5% and 15,5%, respectively, that is, there was a rise in the amount of post consumer waste recycled, “which is extremely positive”, highlights Bahiense.

Although PVC is one of the 3 most manufactured plastics in the world, it is the one that is less present in urban litter. In 2010, 167,000 tons of PVC post consumer waste were generated, which represents only 5% of the total amount of waste generated in Brazil. That occurs due to the fact that 64% of the PVC are used in long life applications, with 15 years shelf life. Those applications include pipes, flooring, sidings, windows among others and have more than 50-year life cycle. Only 12% of PVC are used in short life cycle applications, that is, 0 to 2 years. The remaining 24% are used in products whose life cycle is between 2 to 15 years.

As PVC can be rigid or flexible the research has split the rate of 15,1% (rigid+flexible) into two. The rigid PVC rate has risen from 10.7% in 2009 to 11.4% in 2010. The flexible PVC variation rate was even higher: 17.6% in 2009 and 18.7% in 2010. The reason for that difference is closely related to the PVC life cycle. Since the rigid PVC is mostly used in the civil construction its life cycle is long and therefore not so early recycled. Conversely, the flexible PVC applications are more associated to short or long term life cycles. Thus, the research has confirmed what was expected: the flexible PVC recycling rate remains higher than the rigid PVC, however, the recycling rate of both types together is 15.1%.

Some local characteristics of PVC recycling industry have also been assessed. Out of the total amount recycled in 2010, 48% correspond to the Southeast region, followed by 41% in the South, 8% in the Northeast and 3% in the North regions. The Center West region has no registered local recyclers.

PVC is a differentiated plastic. Its main raw material is chlorine derived from salt (57%), an abundant resource in nature. The remaining 43% derive from ethylene, which is obtained from petroleum.

Research Figures:

Indicators	2010	2009	Range (%) 10/09
Number of vinyl recycling companies	88	105	-16.2
Gross revenue	R$ 133,486,000	R$ 127,130,000	5.0
Number of direct employees	1,339	1,346	-0.5
Idleness in the sector	59.10%	59.60%	---
Average price per ton	R$ 2,128.00	R$ 2,050.00	3.8
Amount of vinyl disposed	167,054 ton.	142,401 ton.	17.3
Amount of post-consumption vinyl recycled	25,302 ton.	20,693 ton.	22.3
Amount of post consumption vinyl + industrial vinyl recycled	29,948 ton.	28,385 ton.	5.5
Origin of the recycled vinyl	84.5% post-consuption	72.9% post-consuption	---
	15.5% industrial	27.1% industrial
Recycling Rate for post-consumption vinyl	15.1%	14.5%	---
Recycling Rate for post-consumption flexible vinyl	18.7%	17.6%	---
Recycling Rate for post-consumption rigid vinyl	11.4%	10.7%	---

The research on PVC recycling rate requested by Instituto do PVC to Maxiquim, a consulting company specialized in the industrial sector, has followed IBGE criteria and covered companies located all over Brazil.

PVC Institute and its represented industrial sector

Instituto do PVC represents all sectors of PVC productive chain, from raw material suppliers to recyclers. The Institute is committed with guiding the associated companies to adopt social responsible policies, promoting the PVC market growth, and disclosing the technical-scientific, environmental and recycling characteristics of PVC to the society by always adopting ethical approaches.

For its versatility, PVC is also present in high added-value applications such as medical equipment (bags and catheters), for car parts industry, agriculture applications, etc.

Source: Instituto do PVC (Brasil)