Ozpoly

Manufacturer
Brisbane QLD
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from Don Matthews
to brisbane@ozpoly.com.au
Jul 17, 2008
Recycling spent poly tanks
mailed-by gmail.com

I am conducting some research into the current state of recycling spent poly rainwater 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 Ozpoly 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 another approach

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from Don Matthews
to brisbane@ozpoly.com.au
Sep 30, 2008
Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Ozpoly,

I notice you manufacture poly rainwater tanks and wondered if you could help me.I am wanting to buy a poly tank but would like to know if it can be recycled when it eventually is 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

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Duraplas

from Don Matthews
to paulh@duraplas.com.au
Jul 15, 2008
subject Recycling spent poly tanks
mailed-by gmail.com

I wonder if you could assist me in some research I am doing into the recycling of spent poly tanks-those which have been completely degraded by UV and reached the end of their useful life. These tanks are now beginning to make an appearance in our enviroment.

I noticed on your website you say "tanks can be recycled" and wondered what you are doing to recycle these spent tanks and what products they are being turned into.

Thanking you for your help.
Don Matthews

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No reply. try another approach
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from Don Matthews
to info@duraplas.com.au
Sep 30, 2008 5:06 PM
subject Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Duraplas,

I notice you manufacture poly rainwater tanks and wondered if you could help me.I am wanting to buy a poly tank but would like to know if it can be recycled when it eventually is 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
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from Matt Rigby
hide details
to Don Matthews
Oct 1, 2008
RE: Recycling spent poly tank

Dear Don

Yes the plastic can be recycled into items that are not used for human consumption we use recycled plastic for our reed beds

Kind Regards
Matt Rigby

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from Don Matthews
to Matt Rigby
Oct 1, 2008
Re: Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Hi Matt,

Thanks for getting back to me. Its amazing the number of people who don't even have the courtesy to acknowledge or reply to my emails. Your effort to respond is much appreciated however I am still having a problem with all this. You see I am sceptical that recycling of spent poly tanks is currently being carried out by the industry as claimed, or that it is even possible. You may be able to help me sort things out. Let me explain why.

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 this occurring. Essentially the plastic disintegrates and loses all its properties. I therefore don't see how it is possible to then remould it into other products. Is the correct? (QUESTION 1)

Would I be correct in saying that the recycled plastic you are using for reed beds is clean plastic such as factory offcuts, seconds etc and not fully UV degraded spent polyethylene ? (QUESTION 2)

If I am not correct (and I am more than happy to be corrected) and fully UV degraded plastic is being remoulded what evidence can you provide to support this? What process is being used and what products is the spent plastic being turned into? (QUESTION 3)

My concern stems from the fact that in the not too distant future there will be millions of spent tanks waiting to be disposed of. If the problem of their recycling is not resolved quickly I fear we could be heading for a major environmental pollution problem.

Regards

Don Matthews

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from Matt Rigby
to Don Matthews
Oct 1, 2008 11:53 AM
RE: Recycling spent poly tank

Dear Don

I have been doing a little research on the net and found to my surprise that you have your own web site. So I hope that you publish my reply on the site and that you forward people to our site so they can view the reed beds that are made from this recycled material

Kind Regards
Matt Rigby

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from Don Matthews
to Matt Rigby
Oct 1, 2008 3:38 PM
Re: Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Hi again Matt,

You are the first one to have done a bit of research on the net and find me. Well done! Have just done a bit of research myself. Got such a surprise when I actually popped up!

I like what you are doing with the reed beds. I vaguely saw something about it in a magazine a while back and thought I must get back to look at this sometime. I'm a gardener to private clients and interested in rainwater collection etc and wondered what the best way to go on greywater was. The reed bed idea sounds a very 'working-with-nature' way to go and being underground the poly would not degrade in the sun which is good. I would be happy to assist with this idea through the websites when I can get time to organize them properly .....

Regards

Don

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Bailey Tanks (Bailey Rotomould) VIC

Bailey Rotomould
Manufacturer
Currum Downs Vic
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from Don Matthews
to sean@baileyrotomould.com.au
Sep 29, 2008 5:15 PM
Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Sean,

I notice you manufacture poly rainwater tanks and wondered if you could help me.I am wanting to buy a poly tank but would like to know if it can be recycled when it eventually is 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

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No response
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fromDon Matthews <donmatthews7@gmail.com>
tosean@baileyrotomould.com.au
Mon, Dec 1, 2008
subject: Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-bygmail.com

Would you please acknowledge and respond to my email

Thankyou
Don Matthews

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No response
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Thomas Plastics (manufacturer QLD)

Manufacturers
Brisbane, Qld

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from Don Matthews
to sales@thomasplastics.com.au
Sep 29, 2008 5:17 PM
Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Thomas Plastics,

I notice you manufacture poly rainwater tanks and wondered if you could help me.I am wanting to buy a poly tank but would like to know if it can be recycled when it eventually is 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

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from Corey Clarke
to Don Matthews
Sep 30, 2008 8:23 AM
RE: Recycling spent poly tank

Good Morning Don,

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. If you have any further question don’t hesitate to contact me.

Kind Regards

Corey Clarke
SALES MANAGER

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from Don Matthews
to Corey Clarke
Oct 2, 2008
Re: Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Corey,

Thankyou for getting back however I have a problem with your statement "You can most definitely recycle the tank at the end of their lives" . You may be able to answer some questions and help me sort this out.

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 1)


Would I be correct in saying that the "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" refers only to clean plastic and not fully UV degraded spent plastic ? (QUESTION 2)


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 can you provide to support this? What process is being used and what products is the spent plastic being turned into? (QUESTION 3)

I am concerned that in the not too distant future millions of spent tanks will be lying around waiting to be disposed of. If the problem of their recycling is not resolved we are likely to have a major environmental pollution problem on our hands.


Regards
Don Matthews

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No reply. Post closed
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Amari

Supplier
Wingfield, South Australia
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from Don Matthews
to enquiries@amari.com.au
Sep 25, 2008 4:05 PM
Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Amari,

I notice you sell poly rainwater tanks and wondered if you could help me.I am wanting to buy a poly tank but would like to know if it can be recycled when it eventually is 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

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No reply

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from Don Matthews
to enquiries@amari.com.au
Oct 7, 2008
Re: Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Amari,

Could you please acknowledge and respond to my email,

Thanks

Don Matthews

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10/27/08,
Reception <enquiries@amari.com.au> wrote:

Dear Don

Very sorry for the very late response to your emails. We have been having problems with our email server and some emails were getting lost. Anyway, in answer to your query, currently we are only manufacturing steel rainwater tanks. We intend to look at poly next year, however at this time we have not investigated the recycling issues ourselves so I'm not able to comment.

Regards
Andrew Churchett
Amari Tanks

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from Don Matthews
to Reception
Oct 27, 2008
Re: Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Andrew,

Thanks for your reply. I have an intersest in the environmental impact of poly tanks and am getting 'interesting' replies to questions on recycling UV-degraded tanks from the industry - quick to say 'yes' but become silent when questioned further and asked for evidence. If you are interested in following progress please let me know. I'm not a manufacturer, simply a concerned member of the public who is beginning to ask questions and wondering why the issue is being 'pushed under the carpet'. I particularly like the sound of the staainless steel tanks being made in Brisbane. Do you know about thease?

Regards
Don Matthews

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Tankworld

Supplier
NSW, VIC, SA, TAS
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from Don Matthews
to sales@tankworld.com.au
Sep 25, 2008 4:01 PM
Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Tankworld,

I notice you sell poly rainwater tanks and wondered if you could help me.I am wanting to buy a poly tank but would like to know if it can be recycled when it eventually is 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

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No reply
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from Don Matthews
to sales@tankworld.com.au
Oct 7, 2008
Re: recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Tankworld,

Could you please acknowledge and respond to my email,

Thanks

Don Matthews

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from Desmarie
to Don Matthews
Oct 8, 2008
RE: Recycling spent poly tank


Hi Don,

Yes, Poly tank are recyclable.

Regards

Desmarie Anastasiadis
Office Manager

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SA Rainwatertanks

Supplier
Woodville, South Australia
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from Don Matthews
to email@sa-rainwatertank.com.au
Sep 25, 2008 3:59 PM
Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear SA Rainwatertank,

I notice you sell poly rainwater tanks and wondered if you could help me.I am wanting to buy a poly tank but would like to know if it can be recycled when it eventually is 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

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No reply

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from Don Matthews
to email@sa-rainwatertank.com.au
date Oct 7, 2008
Re: Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear SA Rainwater Tanks,

Could you please acknowledge and respond to my email,

Thanks

Don Matthews

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to Don Matthews
Oct 9, 2008
RE: Recycling spent poly tank

Hi Don,

Sorry for the delay, we have double checked with Team Poly, and yes our Team Poly brand tanks are 100% recyclable.

Team Poly currently have a “Springtime Cash Back” promotion on at present, where customers can receive between $100.00 and $200.00 cash back on selected tanks. This promotion closed on 30/11/08.

Our new display yard is situated at the corner of Findon and Port Roads, Woodville, and is open Monday – Friday (10.00am to 4.00pm) and Saturday’s (10.00am to 2.00pm).

Please don’t hesitate to call me if you would like a Team Poly brochure posted out or require any further information.

Regards

Trudi


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