UK Vinyl Recycling Program Seeks More Material

London, England, Nov. 19, 2008--A UK program that recycles vinyl and linoleum floor waste is seeking more collection points.

Axion Recycling is urging more waste transfer stations that accept flooring waste from smaller contractors to come forward to boost a permanent collection process for all types of resilient flooring in the UK.

The resilient flooring initiative follows a six-month trial to pilot the collection and recycling of post-consumer vinyl flooring, which was commissioned by the Waste & Resources Action Programme in 2007.

During the trial, a total of 25 tons of material was collected from a number of locations including retail construction sites, hospitals, distributors and individual flooring contractors.

Now Axion, supported by WRAP, is working with four leading flooring manufacturers – Altro, Gerflor, Polyflor and Tarkett to extend the program to include linoleum and safety flooring offcuts for recycling.

Where possible, flooring is picked up by a participating manufacturer and the material is taken for processing at three recycling centres run by Polyfor in Manchester, Tarkett in Kent and Altro in Letchworth.

Contractors can save money by diverting waste from landfill and they will also receive certificates of commitment to prove their ‘green credentials’ in recycling the material.