Maxiplas

Manufacturer
Regency Park SA
--------------------------------------------
fromDon Matthews <donmatthews7@gmail.com>todamien@maxiplas.com
Mar 11, 2009 subject Recycling UV degraded poly tank mailed-bygmail.com

Dear Damien,

I am wondering if the poly tanks Maxiplas manufacture can be recycled when eventually broken down by sunlight. I would like to think I was doing the right thing by the environment in buying a tank which can be recycled at the end of its life.

Thanks for your help
Don Matthews
------------------------------------------------
fromDamien Hough <damien@maxiplas.com> to Don Matthews <donmatthews7@gmail.com>
Mar 11, 2009 Re: Recycling UV degraded poly tank

Hi Don

Thanks for your enquiry.To answer your question, We use 100% food grade polyethylene with a UV stabiliser. Once a tank has reached its shelf life, the material is granulated, treated and we have various applications that this recycled material can be utilised in. It is very comforting to get feedback from consumers who are passionate and aware of our environment such as yourself.

Kind regards
Damien Hough
Sales/Logistics
-----------------------------------------------
fromDon Matthews <donmatthews7@gmail.com>toDamien Hough <damien@maxiplas.com>Mar 11, 2009 Re: Recycling UV degraded poly tank mailed-bygmail.com

Hi Damien,

Just to clarify, when the tank reaches its shelf life in 15+ years it will have been degraded by UV in sunlight, become brittle and fall apart, just like a (non-stabilized) plastic watering can does when left out in the sun. Your reply suggests you already do this with UV-degraded plastic. I can understand non-degraded plastic being recycled, we already do this, but what about degraded plastic? I am a bit puzzled because poly tanks are going to take 15+ years before they get to the stage where they need to be recycled. I don't really know how can say a 15+year-old degraded plastic tank can be recycled when this is in the future? Is there any evidence to that degraded plastic can be recycled? Guess you'd need a tank which has been around for a long time. Can you shed any light on this as I am still having a problem with it. It is important because we are going to eventually end up with millions of degraded tanks in the environment and if it turns out they can't be recycled we're going to have a huge environmental problem.

Regards,
Don
-------------------------------------------