According to Don Matthews, leader of the Australian Poly Tank Concerned Individuals Group (APTCIG), UV-degraded plastic cannot be recycled and the polytank industry is misleading the Australian public on recycling.
In a survey of the industry conducted over the past 6 months he was reassured repeatedly by manufacturers and suppliers that UV-degraded tanks could be recycled at the end of their life. On further questioning and requests for evidence the industry went quiet. APTCIG now wants to put questions to company directors but their association CEO Leisa Donlan seems not to want to go along with this idea.
Over the past months ARMA has put up the following obstructions to APTCIG investigations:
On 11 Aug 2008 I emailed:
Dear Leisa,
In my email of 24 July I asked if you had names and email contacts for key people in member companies of ARMA.Haven't received anything yet. The reason I am asking is that I emailed the following companies from addresses given on their website for assistance in my research into recycling spent poly tanks. No-one bothered to reply or acknowledge receipt of my email. They were definitely received because none were returned. There is no excuse for this and only helps to reinforce my view that nothing is being done. You will appreciate why I am so sceptical.
sales@nationalpolyindustries.com.au 9 July
paulh@duraplas.com.au 15 July
infoworld@polyworld.com.au 17 July
sales@teampoly.com.au 17 July
Brisbane@ozpoly.com.au 17 July
feedback@waterforce.com.au 23 July
Could you please forward names and contact emails for all managing directors of ARMA associated companies. Maybe then I will be able to get a response to my questions.
Thanks,
Don Matthews
No response
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On 11 Aug 2008 I emailed:
Dear Leisa,
I am interested in finding out more about the work you are doing with Auckland University on finding new ways to make it easier for tank owners to recycle their own tanks at the end of their product life
Thanks
Don
Dear Don
Details of the research currently being undertaken are restricted to ARMA members, as the research is still in progress and funded by the members.
Regards
Leisa Donlan
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On 27 Aug 2008 I emailed:
Leisa,
Do you have an email address for egr water ? Can't find it on their website.
Don
No response
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On Dec 17 2008 I emailed:To: Leisa Donlan CEO Association of Rotational Moulders Australasia
From: Don Matthews APTCIG
Leisa,
Please email names and email addresses for Managing Directors of the following manufacturers.I wish to ask some serious questions on recycling.
National Poly Industries
Ozpoly
EGR Water
If you choose not to release this information without a valid reason I will interpret your actions as a deliberate attempt to block my investigations into industry recycling claims and will make every effort to make my view widely known.
Don Matthews
APTCIG Australian Poly Tank Concerned Individuals Group
seeking open and honest answers to open and honest questions
No response. As advised I am now making my views widely known.
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