Using materials recovered from the waste stream typically results in less waste, pollution, and energy use than using virgin materials. From an environmental standpoint, post-consumer is typically considered preferable to pre-consumer recycled content because post-consumer recycled materials are more likely to have been diverted from landfills.
In some cases, we consider products with recycled content green but with some caveats regarding where they should be used. For example, rubber flooring made from recycled automobile tires should not be used in most fully enclosed indoor spaces due to the likelihood of VOC emissions.
Recycling can have downsides. For example, some studies show that curbside collection programs and some recycling processes use more energy than they save. Closed-loop recycling is generally preferable to “down-cycling,” in which a lower-grade material is produced—but due to contamination of waste streams and the difficulty of extracting high-value ingredients, down-cycling may be as good as it gets. At times recycling can re-introduce hazardous components. Some products, like copper and aluminum, include a high level of recycled content as a matter of course—which we applaud, but don’t consider justification for listing in GreenSpec. As more complete life-cycle information on recycled materials and processes becomes available, we use that to increase our scrutiny of recycled products.
MAXiTUF Plastic Lumber
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Pre-consumer (also called “post-industrial”) recycling refers to the reuse of industrial by-products, as distinguished from material that has been in consumer use. The iron-ore slag used to make mineral wool insulation and the fly ash used to make concrete are examples of post-industrial recycled materials. While post-consumer recycled content is preferable, a product that uses pre-consumer content or recycles a seldom-used waste product, especially in an area where recycled products are hard to find, can be considered green.
Excluded from this category, by FTC definitions, is the use of scrap within the same manufacturing process from which it was generated—material that would typically have gone back into the manufacturing process anyway. -
These products are environmentally attractive because they need to be replaced less frequently or their maintenance has very low impact, both of which can reduce costs as well as environmental impact.
Robust answers on typical service life of products can be hard to come by, however. In GreenSpec we reserve this criterion for products where the material is clearly more durable than alternatives, such as an exceptionally traffic-resistant polyurethane floor finish. We refer to standardized tests for durability when they are available and appropriate.
We also consider “appropriate durability”: long life is more important in a building envelope than in interior finish materials that will be replaced for aesthetic reasons. Here, reduced maintenance can be particularly important. An example is resilient flooring that doesn’t require regular waxing: an unnecessary use of resources and a health hazard.
MAXiTUF solid plastic lumber by Resco Plastics is made of 100% recycled HDPE (60% post-consumer) with UV stabilizers. Typically used in decking, docks, and other outdoor applications, it is available in custom colors and sizes, with stock colors of gray, black, and brown, and sizes from 2"x4" (up to 16') to 8"x12" (up to 12'). MAXiTUF carries a 50-year limited warranty.
Most of the plastic decking products listed in GreenSpec contain at least 90% recycled plastic, 50%–100% of which is post-consumer material. In 2003, the EPA estimated that 26.7 million tons of the municipal U.S. solid waste stream was plastics. Just 1.4 million tons of it was recycled; the rest went to landfills, where it occupies about 25% of the overall landfill space.
Plastic lumber makes good use of recycled plastic and is an effective replacement for pressure-treated lumber, protecting timber resources and preventing the use of chemical preservative treatments. Plastic lumber won’t rot, absorb water, splinter, or crack; it’s also resilient to shock, making it an extremely durable component in exterior and marine applications. It can accept most types of fasteners and is workable with standard saws and carbide blades.
Plastic lumber usually isn’t a suitable replacement for load-bearing structural components, however. The physical characteristics of plastic polymers, while durable, don’t provide the rigidity necessary for primary structural support. Some companies have addressed this weakness by reinforcing their products with fiberglass or steel. In addition, plastic lumber experiences greater rates of thermal expansion and contraction, which can give rise to problems in certain applications.
In 2003, the EPA estimated that 26.7 million tons of the municipal U.S. solid waste stream was plastics. Just 1.4 million tons of it was recycled; the rest went to landfills, where it occupies about 25% of the overall landfill space. Plastic lumber makes good use of recycled plastic and is an effective replacement for pressure-treated lumber, protecting timber resources and preventing the use of chemical lumber treatments. Plastic lumber listed in GreenSpec is generally at least 50% recycled content, with post-consumer content ranging from 10%–100%.
Plastic lumber won’t rot, absorb water, splinter, or crack; it’s also resilient to shock, making it an extremely durable component in exterior and marine applications. It can accept most types of fasteners and is workable with standard saws and carbide blades.
Some companies manufacture plastic lumber for structural use, but in general, plastic lumber isn’t a suitable replacement for load-bearing structural components as the physical characteristics of plastic polymers, while durable, don’t provide the rigidity necessary for primary structural support. Some companies have addressed this weakness by reinforcing their products with fiberglass or steel. In addition, plastic lumber experiences greater rates of thermal expansion and contraction, which can give rise to problems in certain applications.
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