New recycling plant halves water use in PVC
New recycling plant halves water use in PVC - Vinyl Council Australia
Media Statement |
| The Australian PVC industry will benefit from Australian Vinyl’s new water recycling plant opened yesterday by the Victorian Premier, the honourable John Brumby. The Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Gavin Jennings also attended the commissioning along with the Chairs and Chief Executives of EPA Victoria and City West Water and the Chief Executive of PACIA. Engineers at Australian Vinyls Corporation (AV) have applied innovative water recycling technologies to recycle waste water and halve the company’s use of fresh water to provide the high grade water required by the PVC resin manufacturing process. AV, a Member of the Vinyl Council of Australia, believes its ability to cut water use significantly in its resin manufacturing will have significant knock on effects for those across the Australian PVC supply chain as it reduces embodied water in PVC products. Furthermore, it is believed this water recycling plant is a first for PVC producers globally and sets a leading example to resin producers around the world. PACIA and EPA Victoria supported development of the pilot plant in 2007, and the Victorian Government recognised the value of the full-scale project, contributing $1.8 million to the construction. While AV has improved its water efficiency over the past decade by about 30 percent, the suspension process of making PVC resin requires a considerable volume of high quality water. This recycling plant will allow AV to halve its potable water intake and reduce trade waste discharge by 70 per cent per annum. Australian Vinyls General Manager, Mr David Cooper, said, “For the company, the investment in this recycling plant makes both economic and environmental sense, allows us to grow our business with reduced risk of water constraints and reduces embodied water in Australian-made vinyl products.” To view AV’s media statement, visit www.av.com.au |
| The Vinyl Council of Australia (VCA) is working to advance the sustainability of the vinyl, or PVC, industry in Australia. Its members are drawn across the supply chain of the vinyl industry. |
| For further information: contact Vinyl Council of Australia on 03 9368 4856 or 0405 772 700. |
