Recycling: Smarter, Easier, Simpler
Having the most advanced PVC-U frame recycling facility in the UK isn’t enough on its own. It has to be easier to access. Now we are making it easier to access, says Stuart Stockley, MD of VEKA Recycling.
The case for replacing PVC-U windows and doors with new, higher performance versions, has never been stronger. The ‘double glazing’ of today, performs significantly better than products installed even ten years ago. The energy crisis has also dramatically played its part of course, driving homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient and improving payback figures. The Glass & Glazing Federation’s ‘Window of Opportunity’ report published recently, shows that 80 million windows are in need of replacement to current standards. This means a significant £467 saving per household per year when new windows are installed. In fact, says the GGF, a massive 98% of windows installed do not meet current regulations for energy efficiency. This is why companies are looking to recycle their old materials, like PVC-U.
The argument for replacing PVC-U old windows for new stacks up even further as the old frames are potentially turned into brand new profiles, within just weeks of their removal. This makes the use of PVC-U as a frame making material even more sustainable. And leading PVC-U frame and profile recycler VEKA Recycling Ltd, is introducing new initiatives to make the service more efficient and therefore more sustainable.
“The recycling of old PVC-U window and door frames has long been established – VEKA built the first plant for the purpose as far back as 1993,” said Stuart Stockley, the managing director of VEKA Recycling Ltd, based at Wellingborough. “Today we are just as committed to continuous improvement, to squeezing the most out of all incoming material, and to consistently developing better ways of doing things. Our approach ensures that all of our extruded polymer bead is reliably of the highest quality, and suitable for use in a huge range of extruded products, from new windows to air conditioning and electrical ducting.”
This constant resolve to find better and more efficient ways of doing things has recently resulted in two key developments, as Stuart explained: “One of the key issues is collecting old frames and virgin offcuts. In order to improve this and make collection more efficient, we are opening a dedicated hub in the North of England, in Burnley, to enable us to consolidate our existing collections, as well as allowing local companies to drop off their material.
“Additionally, we will then develop local collection services with smaller vehicles that will deliver into the Burnley hub, allowing collection of larger bulk loads for return to our Wellingborough headquarters. VEKA Recycling processes everything collected in the UK at its Midlands processing plant, the most advanced in Europe,” he explains. “In itself this is more efficient than many other recyclers because it reduces the miles driven to return the old frames to the point of recycling. Plus the complex process of turning the old frames into new polymer, is completed within the same facility. Often, the material is processed in a number of stages, at different plants. We do everything in house,” he added.
VEKA Recycling will also introduce further services to help make the collection of old window frames easier for installers. This ensures all companies can recycle their old materials, like PVC-U. One of the additional chores for installers is the de-glazing of windows which presents additional time and hassle. Later this year VEKA Recycling will pilot a new scheme to collect old IGUs with the frames, a move that is expected to significantly boost the number of frames returned for processing: “We will look at ways to take glass units with the frames, remove the old spacer, Georgian bar and leaded lights, before crushing the glass to cullet,” said Stuart. “The cullet will then be made into new flat glass, which uses around 30% of recycled material in its manufacture – it’s a well established and highly effective process,” he added. “Ideally, frames should be deglazed, but we are even investigating how we can assist the installer overcome this challenge too,” added Stuart. “Our objective is to collect as much material as possible and to make it as simple as possible to get material recycled.” It’s promising to hear that as years go on, we can expect recycling PVC-U and other materials to be more accessible for customers.
Installers further benefit from advising their homeowner customers about the journey their old frames will take, says Stuart: “That replacing windows with new PVC-U frames makes economic and sustainable sense because their old frames will quickly become new windows, helps to close sales. And throwing in the fact that VEKA Recycling is processing the material will also help to satisfy the homeowner intent on carrying out their own research.” Recycling PVC-U will benefit not only the environment but also the customers!
Replacement windows and doors are one of the most desirable home improvements to homeowner. However, they are thinking more deeply than ever about their investment, including key issues such as sustainability of the products they choose. Our goal is to make recycling as uncomplicated as possible for the installer so that those benefits can be passed on to their homeowner customers. Recycling materials like PVC-U means installers can invest in their materials for the long run instead of needing to waste anything.
If you are interested in working with VEKA Recycling to recycle your PVC-U materials, then feel free to contact us today. Our friendly team will be happy to help you recycle your PVC-U materials or go through any questions you may have about the PVC-U recycling process. Use our online contact form today to start your PVC-U recycling process.