Project at a Glance
- Whitman was retained by a client to find a recycling solution for their PVC filter cake scrap that was being landfilled.
- Due to its low quality and high moisture content, PVC filter cake is difficult to recycle.
- Through diligent research, Whitman secured several recycling options for the client throughout the US and abroad,
Key Words
PVC filter cake, recycling, waste management, PVC resin, Delaware City, raw materials, beneficial reuse, landfill
Overview
PVC filter cake is a difficult material to recycle due to its low quality and high moisture content. This material is far removed from the higher-end PVC resin scrap which resembles a fine, dry powder. Because PVC filter cake is suspended within the plant’s process water and dropped out through a chemical process, the final pressed filter cake is high in moisture content. This creates significant yield loss when dried, which must be considered when evaluating potential recycling options. Freight costs can play a big role in overall economics due to the significant yield loss. Through diligent research, Whitman secured several options throughout the US and abroad to recycle this material.
Project Challenges
Whitman encountered several challenges in trying to secure economical recycling options for the PVC filter cake. The initial option was sending the material overseas, where the PVC scrap market is strong. Unfortunately, due to new tariffs that were imposed on imports in 2015, the economics disappeared for low-end scraps. The domestic market is always very tight, and as petrochemical prices dropped throughout 2015 and 2016, so did the costs for raw materials. With lower raw materials costs, scrap resin prices also dropped. For low-end scraps like PVC filter cakes, the market became almost nonexistent. Our search for additional recycling options is continuous.
