ESWA

Early 2004 Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, France and Austria joined the collecting and recycling of end-of-life PVC roofing membranes initiative started in Germany in June 2003 by DUD (1) and ESWA (2), the German and European Roofing and Waterproofing Membranes’ Manufacturers. Project Teams were set up with representatives of ESWA Members in order to introduce the collecting and recycling system in these neighbouring countries. INTERSEROH, operating at a European level, remains the preferred Waste Management Partner in all new geographic areas.

Therefore in Belgium and France the first roof renovation projects started using INTERSEROH as collecting partner. In France a Project Team was formed within the CMES (3) section of ESWA associated member SFEC (4). An important 9000 m² roof renovation project (at Orly Airport, Paris) is due in July 2004 and will be the occasion to launch an information campaign.

In March 2004 the AfDR (5) Shareholders Meeting decided to stop the cryogenic recycling activities in Troisdorf, Germany by the end of 2004.

Recycling in Ferrara is an interim solution awaiting the start-up of Vinyloop plant in the North or North-East of France in 2006. Industrial partners joined to establish a new VINYLOOP plant, the investment sum is assumed to be about 50 Mio. EUR. The materials to be treated are PVC cables, floorings and roofing membranes.

The ESWA members rely on the Vinyloop process and intend to recycle 3000 tons per year. The Vinyloop technology was developed by the Research Centre of Solvay, Brussels and patented in 1998. After a pilot phase in Brussels the first production of recycled PVC took place in Ferrara in February 2002 (mainly PVC cable waste).

(1) Industrieverband Kunststoff-Dach- und Dichtungsbahnen e.V.
(2) European Single Ply Waterproofing Association
(3) Comité Membranes Etanchéité Synthétiques
(4) Syndicat Français des Enducteurs Calandreurs et Fabricants de Revêtement de Sols et de Murs
(5) Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Dachbahnen-Recycling

The eco-balance of PVC products can considerably be improved using this new recycling technology. The high quality of the recycled material after the Vinyloop process allows the use in new high quality products.
The planned French plant will be specially configured for the recycling of end-of-life PVC roofing membranes and thus allows the manufacturers the use of membrane compounds for new PVC waterproofing membranes at reasonable prices.

In this way the manufacturers organised within ESWA and DUD ensure the recycling and re-use of their products in the future.

Conclusion:

Due to their excellent material properties, their durability and ecological assessment PVC roofing membranes offer an optimum compared to conventional waterproofing systems. Today, PVC roofing membranes are modern materials to ensure long-term reliable waterproofings in the name of nature and thus increasing their market share in the European market.