Composites recycling working group
We must address composite waste and end of life options
FIRST MEETING: 23rd November 2011. Two industry workshops this year looked at glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) and carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite waste and end-of-life options.
One key outcome from the workshops was the need for a united industry approach to address the issue. Composites UK has therefore decided the best way to tackle this is to form a working group to lead on these issues.
The first meeting of the Working Group will be held on 23 November at the Holiday Inn, Kenilworth.
The working group will develop a UK Recycling Strategy and Sustainability Partnership for the whole composites supply chain. This will place the UK ahead of many other European and International countries and potentially provide exploitation opportunities.
Aim of the meeting
The first meeting of the Composites UK Recycling Working Group (RWG) will discuss the long term aims of the work and also suggest initial steps to achieve this. The aim will be to highlight key issues, prioritise and decide how to best approach solutions for these. The first meeting is open to all, but it expected that future attendees will be members of the trade association and join the RWG to benefit their own company initiatives in this area.
The first step in achieving the strategy and partnership is suggested below:
• Market survey of the FRP waste issue in the UK to get a good estimation of the current volumes produced, types of waste, current recycling practice and future challenges.
• Development of an online tool for companies to enter and manage their own waste data.
The meeting will discuss funding options for the various activities and how these tie in with the national programmes developed by organisations such as WRAP.
Provisional programme
The meeting will be facilitated by Dr Sue Halliwell, Composites UK.
09:30 Registration and coffee
10:00 Session 1: Where are we with composite recycling in the UK (Materials KTN)
10:30 Session 2: What do we need to do to progress (Composites UK)
11:00 Coffee break
11:30 Session 3: Composites Recycling Strategy and Sustainability Partnership – how do we get there (WRAP)
12:00 Next steps
12:30 Lunch
13:00 Close
Registration and fees
Spaces are limited so early registration advised.
Composites UK members free, but pre-registration essential.
Non-members £40 + VAT
Registration forms available from info@compositesuk.co.uk
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