Teampoly

Manufacturer
Head office Lonsdale SA
Manufacturing centres and offices in
Bathurst NSW
Towoomba QLD
Ballarat VIC


Team Poly has been manufacturing quality water tanks since 1990. They have produced and distributed close to 1 million tanks throughout Australia in 18 years of operation. Available throughout Australia in over 1,700 retail outlets - including water irrigation / tank specialists, rural and urban hardware stores and garden and landscaping outlets.

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from Don Matthews <donmatthews7@gmail.com>
to sales@teampoly.com.au
date Jul 17, 2008 1:51 PM
subject Recycling spent poly tanks
mailed-by gmail.com

I am conducting some research into the current state of recycling spent poly tanks in Australia - those which have been completely degraded by UV and have finished their useful life. Failed tanks are now beginning to appear in the environment and there are conflicting reports as to whether they can be recycled or not. What is Teampoly is doing in this regard? What process is being used to recycle them and what products are they being converted into?

Thanking for your help
Don Matthews

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No reply Try again with different tack
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From: Don Matthews [mailto:donmatthews7@gmail.com]
Sent: 01 August 2008
To: Teampoly Lonsdale Sales
Subject: Disposal of spent poly tank

Hi there,

I live in Adelaide and have a very old 5000 gal poly tank which has been completely broken down by the sun and I can't repair it anymore. They say tanks can be recycled and I'm wondering if you can direct me to a local recycler who can take the tank and turn it into something useful. It's just lying about looking an eyesore and I want to get rid of it.

Thanks for your help
Don Matthews

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From: "Rob Wilkinson" <RobW@teampoly.com.au>
To: "Don Matthews" <donmatthews7@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008
RE: Disposal of spent poly tank

Hi Don,

Thank you for your email.

There are some people who may be able to recycle your old tank. We only recycle our own new material.

I would suggest you check the Yellow Pages as recyclers often have different requirements.

Regards,
Rob WilkinsonSales Team Leader
TEAMPOLYWater Solutions for Life
Ph: 08 8326 2256Fax: 08 8326 2257
Email: robw@teampoly.com.au

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from Don Matthews
Sep 17
to sales@teampoly.com.au
Sep 17, 2008 5:15 PM
subject recycling spent poly tanks
mailed-by gmail.com

To: Managing Director Teampoly

Two months ago I emailed Teampoly for some help with a research project I am conducting into the recycling of spent poly tanks (copy below). For some reason I have not received any acknowledgement or reply.


from Don Matthews <donmatthews7@gmail.com>
To sales@teampoly.com.au
Jul 17, 2008
subject Recycling spent poly tanks
mailed-by gmail.com

I am conducting some research into the current state of recycling spent poly tanks in Australia - those which have been completely degraded by UV and have finished their useful life. Failed tanks are now beginning to appear in the environment and there are conflicting reports as to whether they can be recycled or not. What is Teampoly is doing in this regard? What process is being used to recycle them and what products are they being converted into?

Thanking for your help
Don Matthews


ARMA says "can poly tanks be recycled? Yes, they can be completely recycled" (http://www.watertanks.org.com.au/) and Leisa Donlan (ARMA CEO) says "rotational moulders gather the material and cut it to a size to be recycled and then arrange for it to be collected by the recyclers" (email to me 11 Aug).

This seems to contradict other opinions I have heard which suggest spent tanks are not able to be recycled. Are you able to help clarify this?

Is Teampoly doing anything to address the problem of recycling spent poly tanks? If so, what process is being used and what products are they being turned into?


Thanking you for your help,
Don Matthews

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from Rob Wilkinson
to Don Matthews
cc Richie Dixon
Sep 18, 2008
subject RE: recycling spent poly tanks

Hello Don,

We did receive an email from you on 1 August 2008 and a reply was sent on the same day. I have attached a copy of this email with my response.

Unfortunately, we did not receive a copy of the email shown below. In the light of this, I have now forwarded a copy of this email on to our General Manager (Richie Dixon) who may be able to provide some information for your reasearch project.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Regards,
Rob Wilkinson
Sales Team Leader
TEAMPOLY

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from Richie Dixon
to donmatthews7@gmail.com
cc Rob Wilkinson
Sep 18, 2008 12:40 PM
RE: Disposal of spent poly tank

Don there is a number of company's who are able to recycle polyethylene.

The recycler that I use is Adelaide Granulation Industries at Lonsdale (Adrian Agardi Ph: 8326 6198)

Don I do have a few questions you could possibly answer for me

How old is the tank
Do you know who produced it
What material was it made from
When you say that is has broken down from UV what are the signs Eg: hazing of surface, brittle plastic material ect
Is it possible to get a sample of the tank?

Regards
Richard Dixon
General Manager Operations

TEAMPOLY
36 Waddikee RoadPO Box 11, Lonsdale SA 5160

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from Don Matthews
Richie Dixon
Sep 19, 2008
Re: Disposal of spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Thanks for your reply Richie. Am very busy at present but will get back to you in due course. I won't forget.

Don

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from Richie Dixon
to Don Matthews
Sep 19, 2008
RE: Disposal of spent poly tank

Thanks Don

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fromDon Matthews <donmatthews7@gmail.com>

toRichie Dixon <richie@teampoly.com.au>
Nov 24, 2008

Disposal of spent poly tank

mailed-bygmail.com

Dear Richie,

As mentioned earlier I am still continuing my research into the recycling of spent poly tanks. Are you able to provide any answers to the following questions? :

QUESTION 1

Sunlight eventually breaks down plastic making it brittle and lose all its strength. The long-chain polymer molecules which allow plastic to be moulded and give it its strength and rigidity are ruptured by UV light. No amount of added UV stabilizers will prevent the chemical degradation process from occurring. Essentially the plastic disintegrates and loses all its properties. As a result I don't see how it is possible to then remould it into other products. Is the correct?

QUESTION 2

Would I be correct in saying that polyethylene plastic currently being recycled is only clean plastic such as factory scraps, seconds etc and not fully UV degraded (spent) plastic ?

QUESTION 3

If I am not correct (and I am more than happy to be put right on this) and fully UV degraded plastic is actually being remoulded what evidence is there to support this? What process is being used and what products is the spent plastic being turned into?

Thanks for your help.

Don Matthews

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fromRichie Dixon <richie@teampoly.com.au>
toDon Matthews <donmatthews7@gmail.com>
RE: Disposal of spent poly tank
Nov 24

Don who are you and what is your agenda?

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fromDon Matthews <donmatthews7@gmail.com>
toRichie Dixon <richie@teampoly.com.au>
Nov 26, 2008
Re Disposal of spent poly tank
mailed-bygmail.com

Richie,

I am Don Matthews, an environmentally-concerned member of the public, who is sceptical that UV-degraded poly tanks can be recycled as claimed by the industry. To quell my scepticism I am asking you, as a major manufacturer, to answer three simple questions.

Questions 1 and 2 require only a simple yes/no answer while Question 3 requires something a bit more specific, which shouldn't be a problem if what ARMA is saying is true "Can poly tanks be recycled? Yes, they can be completely recycled"

The industry is required to make sure its tanks will be recycled at the end of their life, yes? I am asking for answers to simple questions which will quell my scepticism and demonstrate the industry is honouring its requirements and acting in an environmentally responsible manner.

I look forward to your response.

Don
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fromRichie Dixon <richie@teampoly.com.au>
toDon Matthews <donmatthews7@gmail.com>
ccSteve George <steve@teampoly.com.au>
Nov 26, 2008
RE: Disposal of spent poly tank

Don

I do not wish to wade in the politics of what you have listed below. however I would think you should be going to the source and asking the question of them .

Eg Material suppliers

Qenos SCG
Chevron Plastics
Daelim

Just to name a few
I hope this helps

Regards
Richard Dixon
General Manager Operations

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