November 15, 2006

SIMPLAS

Simplas is taking tonnes of plastic waste from worksites and turning it into something useful while keeping it out of landfill sites.

Innovation

Workplace education should boost recycling rates of build products

Simplas saves tonnes of vinyl, new pipe born out of old waste

PETER KENTER

correspondent

After 12 years with vinyl products producer Royal Group Technologies, Stuart Clark got a good look at the amount of plastic waste being generated at construction sites.

In 2004, he established Simplas, a Mississauga-based recycling business designed to handle any kind of plastic waste originating at construction sites — primarily pipes, conduits, other plumbing products, and vinyl siding — whether new or salvaged from demolition.

“I tell them, ‘listen guys, put the bins down, save a tip fee.’”

Stuart Clark

Simplas

While other companies recycle plastics, Clark’s company focuses on the tougher construction market, which often supplies dirt-contaminated or mixed materials for processing.

“Plastic used to go straight into the general waste bin,” says Clark. “If contractors start to pull the plastic out, we’ll take it at no charge and save them the tipping fee.”

New construction provides the best material for Clark’s operation — clean vinyl siding off-cuts or short lengths of PVC pipe that can be thrown into dedicated plastics bins on-site.

“In demolition, the material comes in from the site in worse condition,” he says. “We can’t process the material if the pipes are full of clay or aggregate, so the cleaner the better.

“Zero contamination is perfect, but if we ask the contractors for perfectly clean plastic, it will cost them too much time. We’ll clean up pipes, pull off the lumber and remove wire or metal flanges.”

While re-use is considered the best option for plastic products, that isn’t always a realistic scenario, says Graham Knowles, a consultant with the Vinyl Council of Canada (VCC).

“We’ve been encouraging recyclers to take the material in a little less than pristine condition and we’re pleased to work with Simplas on this pilot project.”

Clark visits construction sites to help educate contractors and to encourage them to segregate material. “I tell them, ‘listen guys, put the bins down, save a tip fee.’” Although he hopes to have waste plastic delivered directly to his facility, he’s currently collecting material from larger sites to ensure a steady stream of raw material.

The VCC estimates that by 2010, vinyl pipe and siding alone will account for 38 million pounds of post consumer waste in Canada. Vinyl windows will add another 83 million pounds.

Simplas’ current intake is about 65 to 70 per cent vinyl and 20 to 25 per cent polyethylene, supplemented by other plastics. The company is currently processing around 20 to 50 tonnes of vinyl per month, which is washed, ground down, then re-sold to the local extrusion market.

“I don’t want to send it overseas,” says Clark. “Material produced here should stay here. It’s already benefited the local extrusion market by assisting companies to produce lower cost products.”

Knowles says much of the recycled vinyl pipe material is being used to make more pipe.

“You can either mix it up with virgin vinyl or create an outside surface of recycled vinyl and an inside core of virgin vinyl. Vinyl is so durable that pipes made of it are estimated to have a minimum service life of 100 years of more.”

Currently, Clark is collecting material in the GTA and at other waste collection sites run by Walker Industries.

Eventually, he hopes to establish collection facilities in most Ontario municipalities. “I could easily handle 500 tonnes per month,” he says.

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