Tuff Tanks

Manufacturers and distributors
Queensland

---------------------------------------

from Don Matthews
to sales@tufftanks.com.au
Aug 27, 2008
Recycling spent poly tanks
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Tuff Tanks,


I am doing some research into the recycling of spent poly rainwater tanks - those which have been completely degraded by UV and need to be disposed of. Recycling these tanks has now become a top priority, for as you are probably aware, tanks are failing much earlier than expected, many well before their warranty even expires.

Leisa Donlan CEO of the Association of Rotational Moulders Australia (ARMA) states on the industry website www.watertanks.org.au "can polty tanks be recycled? yes then can be completely recycled" and also "the material is 100% recycled"

She has also also confirmed to me that "spent tanks are currently recycled" and that "rotational moulders gather the material, cut it to a size to be recycled and then arrange for it to be collected by the recyclers"

From all this it would appear recycling spent tanks is well under control. It is good to hear the industry is showing concern for the environment by already recycling tanks it is putting into our environment at a rapidly increasing rate.

As a rotational moulder could you please tell me what Tuff tanks is doing in this area? What process is being used to recycle the tanks and what products are they being turned into?

Thanking you in anticipation for help with my research.

Don Matthews

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No response. Try another approach.
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from Don Matthews
to sales@tufftanks.com.au
Oct 13, 2008
Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

DearTuff Tanks,

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

---------------------------------------------
Still no response
--------------------------------------------

from Don Matthews
to sales@tufftanks.com.au
Oct 29, 2008
: Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Tuff Tanks,

I am waiting for a response. Is there a problem?

Don Matthews

------------------------------------------------

from "sales@tufftanks.com.au"
to Don Matthews
Oct 29, 2008
RE: Recycling spent poly tank

Hi Don,

Apparently it can be done, the polyethylene has a guaranteed life of 20 years (according to the manufacturers) and they inform me that there are a couple of places that will ‘shred’ the tank. It is then taken and turned back into a “2nd Grade” powder that can be used for other items.

Thank you for your enquiry

Regards

Michelle

-------------------------------------------------

Eco-Plus

Supplier and installer
Adelaide SA
---------------------------------------------------


from Don Matthews
to carol@eco-plus.com.au
Oct 2, 2008 1:28 PM
Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Carol at Eco-Plus,

I notice you supply and install 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

-------------------------------------------------=--

National Poly Industries

Manufacturer
QLD
----------------------------------------------------

sales@nationalpolyindustries.com.au
date
Jul 9, 2008
Recycling spent poly tanks
mailed-by gmail.com

I am doing some research on recycling of spent poly tanks and was wondering if you could direct me to the source of your website statement "The manufacturing process....and the material can by recycled".(Why buy poly tanks?)

Thanks
Don Matthews

--------------------------------------------------


No reply. Try another approach

--------------------------------------------------

from Don Matthews
to sales@nationalpolyindustries.com.au
Sep 30, 2008 5:10 PM
Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear National Poly Industries,

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

-------------------------------------------------

from Don Matthews
to sales@nationalpolyindustries.com.au
Oct 13, 2008 4:04 PM
subject Re: Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Could you please respond to my email

Thanks

Don Matthews

--------------------------------------------

from Michael Peters
to donmatthews7@gmail.com
Oct 17, 2008 9:59 AM
National Poly Industries - Answer to your question

Good Morning Don,

To answer you question, Yes our tanks can be recycled. Here at National Poly Industries from time to time we get tanks that don’t form properly or may have been under cooked. If this happens we simply cut the tank up into small manageable pieces and they are then collected by a recycling company in Brisbane you use then to make toy boxes, milk crates and so on.

I hope this has answered your question.

If you would like any further information please feel free to contact me directly on 41313416 or by reply email.

Thanks

Michael Peters
Internal Sales
National Poly Industries

Toll Free 1800 644 750
Direct (07) 4131 3416
Fax (07) 4155 2088
Email michaelpeters@polyindustries.com

------------------------------------------------
from Don Matthews
to Michael Peters
Oct 21, 2008 3:40 PM
Re: National Poly Industries - Answer to your question
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Michael,

Thankyou for getting back to me about recycling spent poly tanks but I am puzzled as to why you are talking about " tanks that don't form properly or may have been under cooked" when I was asking about recycling a tank which "eventually is broken down by sunlight". In the not-too-distant future millions of brittle UV-degraded tanks are going to be sitting around waiting to be disposed of. Is how to recycle spent plastic all very much an unknown at the moment?

Don Matthews

-----------------------------------------------

from Michael Peters
to Don Matthews
Oct 22, 2008

RE: National Poly Industries - Answer to your question

Good Morning Don,

Sorry about the delayed reply.

I have been away for the last few days. In short the answer to your question is yes.

Once a poly tank has lasted it’s lifetime the material can be recycled into other non food grade products eg. Milk crates. There are several companies in Australia that can recycle polyethelene products.

I hope that this has answered your question.

Thanks

Michael Peters

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from Don Matthews
to Michael Peters
Re: National Poly Industries - Answer to your question
22 Oct 2008
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Michael.

Thanks for your reply but I am having a problem with your statement "In short the answer to your question is yes. Once a poly tank has lasted it's lifetime the material can be recycled into other non food grade products". I have some further questions. Perhaps you can 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 and no amount of added UV stabilizers will eventually prevent this 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 any current recycling of polyethylene only involves clean plastic such as factory scraps, seconds etc 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 is there to support this? What process is being used and what products is the spent plastic being turned into? (QUESTION 3)

Why I am concerned is 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.

Could you please respond to these three questions or pass them on to anyone in your organisation who can, or alternatively direct me to someone who can.

Thanks

Don Matthews

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from Joe Rostas
to donmatthews7@gmail.com
Oct 23, 2008
subject poly tanks

Good morning Don,

Sorry that no one got back to you sooner to answer your question. Poly tanks are environmentally responsible. Our tanks are made from virgin food grade polyethylene. At the end of its service life perhaps 20-30 years +, it will be a high value recyclable material. In addition to that there is no pollution and no water used during their malefactor. If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me.
kind Regards

Joe Rostas
National Poly Industries
89 Childers Road BUNDABERG QLD 4670
P 07 4131 3400
M 0408 763 971
D 07 4131 3406
E joerostas@polyindustries.com
W http://www.nationalpolyindustries.com.au/
F 074155 2088

-------------------------------------------
from Don Matthews
to Joe Rostas
Oct 23, 2008
subject Re: poly tanks
mailed-by gmail.com

Hello Joe,

Thankyou for getting in touch about recycling spent poly tanks.

I am wondering which email are you responding to? (I have sent several and been communicating with a Michael Peters before). What position do you hold in National Poly Industries? (you have not identified any position)

Regards

Don Matthews

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Joe Rostas
to donmatthews7@gmail.com
Oct 24, 2008
: Recycling spent poly tank

Hello Don,

Michael is away so I'm covering for him. If you want, let me know what area you live in and I'll send you some prices on our tanks.

Thanks
Joe Rostas
Business Developer - distribution.
National Poly Industries
89 Childers Road BUNDABERG QLD 4670
P 07 4131 3400
M 0408 763 971
D 07 4131 3406
E joerostas@polyindustries.com
W http://www.nationalpolyindustries.com.au/
F 074155 2088

From: Don Matthews [mailto:donmatthews7@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, 22 October 2008 10:31 AMTo: bundypolyind@optusnet.com.auSubject: Recycling spent poly tank

Dear Bundaberg Poly Industries,

Would you please respond to my email below.

Don Matthews


from Don Matthews <donmatthews7@gmail.com>
to bundypolyind@optusnet.com.au
Oct 16, 2008
subject recycling spent poly tank

mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Bundaberg Poly Industries,

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

----------------------------------------------

from Don Matthews
to Joe Rostas
cc Leisa Donlan


date
Oct 24, 2008
Re: Recycling spent poly tank
mailed-by gmail.com

Hi Joe,

I have just put the pieces together and now see that Bundaberg Poly Industies is part of National Poly Industries.

I am seeking answers to the following questions. If you are unable to provide the answers could you please pass this email on to someone in your organization who can. Please let me know what action you have taken.

Thanks,
Don

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) 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?


I would appreciate answers the above questions,

Don Matthews

----------------------------------------------

from Joe Rostas

to donmatthews7@gmail.com
Oct 24, 2008
from JoeRostas@polyindustries.com

Hello Don,

We are in the business of making and selling rainwater tanks.We are not a scientific advisory service. Please do not send anymore emails.go online There are
plenty of other tank companies that would be happy to deal with you.

good bye
Joe Rostas
National Poly Industries
89 Childers Road BUNDABERG QLD 4670
P 07 4131 3400
M 0408 763 971
D 07 4131 3406
E joerostas@polyindustries.com
W www.nationalpolyindustries

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from Don Matthews
to sales@nationalpolyindustries.com.au
Oct 27, 2008
subject Request for information
mailed-by gmail.com

Could you please let me know the name and email address for thr Managing Director of National Poly Industries

Thanks

Don Matthews

---------------------------------------------

from Don Matthews
to sales@nationalpolyindustries.com.au
Oct 29, 2008
subject Request for information
mailed-by gmail.com

Could you please respond to my email request.

Don Matthews

---------------------------------------------

from Don Matthews
to sales@nationalpolyindustries.com.au
cc Leisa Donlan ,
Joe Rostas ,
Michael Peters
Nov 4, 2008 4:43 PM
subject Hello.... is anybody home?
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear National Poly Industries,

I have been receiving reports from recipients that their servers are having problems and losing my emails. Perhaps you are experiencing the same problem?

I have tried on two occasions to get information without sucess (below). Does anyone happen to know the name and address of the Managing Director? I would like to ask him/her a few questions.

Thanks

Don Matthews

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from Don Matthews
to Joe Rostas
cc ldonlan@rotationalmoulding.com,
Michael Peters
Nov 10, 2008 2:10 PM
subject Dear Joe don't worry
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Joe

Don't worry if you don't know the name of your Managing Director. I can get my boys from triple M to ferret this out. Mind you I don't always agree with their tactics but they seem to always come up with the goods so guess I can't complain.

Need to ask some questions

Thanks anyhow

Don


On 4 Nov I wrote to no avail:

To: sales@nationalpolyindustries
date 4 Nov 2008
Subject: Hello... is anyone home?
cc Joe Rostas (NPI)
Michael Peters(NPI)
Lisa Donlan(ARMA)

Dear National Poly Industries,
>
>I have been receiving reports from recipients that their servers are having
>problems and losing my emails. Perhaps you are experiencing the same problem?
>
>I have tried on two occasions to get information without success . Does
>anyone happen to know the name and address of the Managing Director? I would
>like to ask him/her a few questions.
>
>Thanks
>
>Don Matthews

------------------------------------------------

from Don Matthews
to Joe Rostas
cc Leisa Donlan
Nov 17, 2008 3:23 PM
Re:
mailed-by gmail.com

To: Joe Rostas Business Developer - distribution (National Poly Industries)

Dear Joe,

I wish to respond to your email of 24 Oct reproduced below :


Hello Don,

We are in the business of making and selling rainwater tanks.We are not a scientific advisory service. Please do not send anymore emails.go online There are

plenty of other tank companies that would be happy to deal with you.

good bye
Joe Rostas
National Poly Industries



While you may be in the business of making and selling tanks you also have the responsibilty of ensuring the tanks NPI is putting into the environment are efficiently recycled of at the end of their life.

I have asked for evidence to support your claim that UV-degraded (spent) tanks can be recycled but you do not seem to be able to provide any.

I do not know where you sit in the company but I have asked for the name of your Managing Director on numerous occasions, from yourself and others, including your association ARMA. Each time I have been ignored. From this I conclude no-one wants me asking questions and that the Managing Director is not prepared to come out and discuss an issue which is of environmental concern to many Australians.

I will therefore have to take your response to be the official response of National Poly Industies. i.e.

1. Despite claiming UV-degraded (spent) tanks can be recycled NPI have been unable to supply any evidence to support this or direct me to any specific research being carried out in this area.

2. I have been asked to go away and find the evidence for myself and to not communicate anymore.

3. The Managing Director of National Poly Industries is not prepared to come out and discuss the matter.

Your response will be included in my report into the current state of recycling UV-degraded (spent) poly tanks in Australia, due to be published in the new year.

Thankyou for your assistance with my research project.

Don Matthews

APTCIG
Australian Poly Tank Concerned Individuals Group

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Polyworld

Manufacturer


to info@polyworld.com.au.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 Polyworld 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

----------------------------------------------------

No reply. Try another approach

-----------------------------------------------------

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

Dear Polyworld,

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

----------------------------------------------------

Ozpoly

Manufacturer
Brisbane QLD
---------------------------------------------------

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

---------------------------------------------------

No reply. Try another approach

--------------------------------------------------

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

----------------------------------------------------

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

------------------------------------------------
No reply. try another approach
-----------------------------------------------


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
------------------------------------------------

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

-------------------------------------------------

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

---------------------------------------------------------

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

----------------------------------------------------

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

----------------------------------------------------

Bailey Tanks (Bailey Rotomould) VIC

Bailey Rotomould
Manufacturer
Currum Downs Vic
-----------------------------------------------------------


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

----------------------------------------------------
No response
---------------------------------------------------

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
------------------------------------------------------