WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

July 2008
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JOHN ROSEFELDER (Stainless Rainwater Tanks Pty Ltd)
"Currently there is no way to recycle the spent plastic and this may create a real environmental problem when all the plastic tanks will start to fail in the years to come" (http://www.stainlessrainwatertanks.com/. Questions and answers)

"Unfortunately your statement that “manufacturers state that tanks are recyclable” cannot be substantiated. For such a statement to have any value concise information would be required. Example Mr..... from Poly World, in his position as Managing Director declared on the (date) that tanks manufactured from polyethylene after expire of their service life can be recycle in following manner........... with the end product being used as........... I would welcome if you could supply such information and I change my website accordingly. Any other statement is meaningless and purely a marketing tool" (email 10 July) "

I am in close contact with (name removed) one of the largest poly tank manufacturer in Australia. My question to him regarding recycling is always answered in a very coy and political way. Essentially nobody in this industry would address the issue that poly tanks are actually failing already, many well before there warranty expires. Therefore if nobody acknowledge this problem in the first place, there is no need to discuss recycling!!!!!" (email 10 July)

"I am not a scientist, but my common sense and every day experience tells me that there is a real issue with recycling spent poly. This statement is based on following reasoning. 1)“spent” poly is a product where the polymers, which give poly the elasticity and strength are destroyed by the exposure to UV rays. To the best of my knowledge there is no technology available to reverse this process. 2) We replaced numerous split and cracked poly tanks, and this shells just remain in the field, some for years. Refuse dumps do not accept them ( here in Brisbane anyway). If there would be any value in this piles of twisted plastic, somebody surely would be happy to accept them. 3) The shell of the black poly tank, shown in my website, resting on a vacant block of land about 4km from the Brisbane CBD for the last 4 years. Well within walking distance of some metal recyclers. If there would be any value at all in this heap of plastic, it would have disappeared years ago. 4)If you take a drive through the country side around Brisbane, towards Gatton you see numerous failed tank just laying in the fields, one of them is actually recycled. It has been spilt in halve and is used as a goat house. 5) If you visit Bunnings you will find garden edging made from recycled plastic, but not poly" (email 10 July)
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LEISA DONLAN (CEO ARMA Association of Rotational Moulders Australasia)
"Can poly tanks be recycled? yes they can be completely recycled" (http://www.watertanks.org.com.au/) "the material is 100% recycled" (http://www.watertanks.org.com.au/)

"Most of the spent tanks will be recycled into animal troughs, road barriers and non-food grade products" (email 14 July) ---------------------------------------------------------
DON MATTHEWS (concerned member of public)
"I will not sit idly by and watch a big multimillion dollar organization risk mucking up the environment for my kids all for the sake of sales and the dollar"

"I am getting frustrated at being given vague and evasive answers, or no answers at all, to what I, and a lot of other people, view as very important and serious questions about the future of our environment" (email to LD 24 July)

"I may be old fashioned but I still value the courtesy of acknowlegement or reply " (on sending emails)

"Unlike ARMA, my research project with the University of Maradonga is not top secret" (on Leisa Donlan's comment that details and progress of a recycling research between ARMA and the University of Auckland, broadcast on ARMA'S website is restricted to ARMA members)

"I do not seem to be getting any replies to my email questions to manufacturers - probably getting lost in the system" (email to LD 24 July)

"It seems more like a marketing tool than a genuine care for the environment"(email to LD 24 July)

"I am willing to stand corrected if I am coming to the wrong conclusions" (email to LD 24 July)

"I am getting the impression that no-one in the poly tank industry is willing to address the problem that tanks are already failing. If no-one acknowledges there is a problem in the first place I guess there is no need to discuss recycling.... is there? (email to LD 24 July)
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SMART SEWAGE SOLUTIONS (supplier)
"Basically, non-conforming tanks (seconds) or tanks that have come to the end of their working life or that have been fatally damaged can be cut up and returned to the manufacturer for recycling into non-food grade products"
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Sep 2008
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THOMAS PLASTICS (manufacturer QLD)
"You can most definitely recycle the tank at the end of their lives, however they tend to last a very long time our tanks come with a 25 year warranty, Any off cuts, seconds or damaged tanks are recycled here as we have a full recycling plant in house which allows us to reprocess the plastic and re use for other products"
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ROTECH (manufacturer QLD)
"We manufacture our poly tanks from food grade plastic which can be recycled"

"The answer to your question is yes. Even after 20 years the plastic can still be recycled it would only be the outer wall of the tank that may be affected"
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ECOPLANIT (supplier SA)
"Our tanks are manufactured from high quality food grade Polyethylene so recycling shouldn’t be a problem.
Currently none of the manufacturers offer a recycling programme but may do in the future"
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ECOWATERWISE/ROTOMECH (Manufacturer Pooraka SA)
"The answer is yes, in fact polyethylene water tanks are made from LLDPE and this is a good recyclable material"
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ROTECH (manufacturers)
"We manufacture our poly tanks from food grade plastic which can be recycled. (email 23 Sep)

"The answer to your question is yes. Even after 20 years the plastic can still be recycled it would only be the outer wall of the tank that may be affected.Hope this clarifies it for you"
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ASTRON PLASTICS (Recyclers)
"Due to our focus on clean source material Astron plastics does not collect post consumer waste" (website)
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PLASTIC TANKS QUEENSLAND (manufacturers)
"Yes our tanks are entirely recyclable. We recycle and reuse our own scrap plastic.The plastic we use has been UV stabilised so the harsh Australian sun does not break down the plastic. It been in testing for over 25 years"
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Oct 2008
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POLYTANK
Rainwater tanks are made from polyethylene which is at the top of the list as far as recycling is concerned. I have recyclers such as PGS and Advanced Plastic Recycling lining up for any tank failures and are prepared to pay for the plastic
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TANKPOLY (manufacturer Lonsdale SA)
"After checking this with our suppliers technical department, I can confirm that the tanks can be recycled after their life span for other uses"
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March 2009
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MASTER TANKS (manufacturer SA)
"Yes all of our polyethylene tanks can be recycled"
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POLY WATER TANKS (manufacturer NSW)
"All our tanks are can be recycled"
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MISCELLANEOUS
" I find it interesting the no comments you get. my general theory is that no plastic of any sort will suffer the sun. i have seen even the best of outdoor sheeets etc only break down. I truly believe the best tanks are concrete or galv." (JD)

"I am concerned about the environment in general. I want clean air, clean water. In short, a cleaner world" (Spike Milligan) "

I have been following your 'debate' with interest" (PV)

"I have purchased many poly tanks in my time. This is because the corrugated galvanized ones rust out in 10 - 12 years with Adelaide water. I will never buy an 'iron' tank again." (PV)

"Good luck with it" (DM)

"if they say they can recycle them, then maybe they can, once they add new materials in the mix..?" (CD)

"This is amazing" (PV)

"they have been of interest to me. It does seem that you will have quite battle to get anywhere on this one, but I wish you the very best of luck." (RW)

"Your approach is much too aggressive for me" (Jennifer Morohasey Australian Environment Foundation))
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