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Intruplas plastic recycling scheme
From Plastic Bag to Picnic Table!
Intruplas was established by the GBN in February 2000 to recycle waste plastic from local companies, this could not previously be recycled and thus diverting it from landfill. This demonstrated the environmental benefits in reprocessing the waste material into plastic profiles to make a whole range of new and useful products, or moulded into specific products such as ground-blocks. The project was funded by the European Regional Development Fund and through the Landfill Tax credits scheme.
As a unique demonstration project, Intruplas provided recycling facilities for some of the 10,000 tonnes of plastic waste produced each year by just 50 local companies, while at the same time, involving people with a range of disabilities in assembling the final products.
Intruplas has demonstrated that mixed waste plastic can be reprocessed into value-added products for a number of uses. From the research and development work undertaken by Intruplas, a variety of products have been developed:
- Street and garden furniture such as picnic tables, benches and planters
- Waterways and revetment products, decking, fishing platforms, fenders, etc.
- Ground blocks for footpaths, cycle paths and car parks
- Fencing and building materials
- Specialist pallets and coil carriers
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British Waterways produced two reports on their use of Intruplas products. The first describes the innovative use of Intruplas recycled plastic during the construction of the Millennium Ribble Link under a Landfill Tax credit scheme funded by the Lancashire Environment Fund.
Recycled plastic was used for:
- Revetment using both post and board and hexagonal blocks. British waterways found the material successful in reducing the amount of siltation into the channel and for providing wash protection.
- Landing stages next to locks. The recycled plastic was found to be very successful both as a non-slip walking surface, and for the upright posts resistance to boat impact.
- Plastic fenders were installed on all structures on the link and proved to be ideal because of their strength and durability as well as flexibility, absorbing significant impact from boats.
- Steps, handrails, path edging and navigation marker posts for boats navigating in high water levels.
The report concluded that the recycled plastic was ideal for the applications it was put to.
The second report described work on the Aire and Calder Navigation canals and was funded by Landfill Tax credits from WREN. The recycled plastic from Intruplas was used in much the same way, with the addition of its use in surfacing car parks and fencing. The report concluded that “where the material can be used within the constraints of caring for a heritage network, the use of Intruplas recycled plastics can contribute to the proportion of recycled materials used to maintain and improve the waterway by providing attractive, long lasting and serviceable items and features.”
In 2007 Intruplas Ltd was acquired by Lynwood Products Ltd, a leading UK manufacturer of decorating products and high volume plasticwares based in Halifax. Lywood Products has now been sold, however Intruplas still remains in Halifax, under the new name of I-plas.
For more information on I-plas products, please visit their website
