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January 26, 2018
HDPE Can Be Recycled More Than 10 Times
A recent scientific test performed by a German waste management and sustainability company suggests that high-density polyethylene containers can and should be recycled more often. ESE World successfully developed a test method that confirms how many times HDPE can be re-processed through injection molding without starting to degrade. This finding should help to increase the practical lifespan of this material, commonly found in plastic bottles. Such findings should also help to increase the rate of recycling amongst them. Statistically speaking, the recycling rate of HDPE bottles sat at only 33% in 2016, which was a slight decrease from previous years. Overall, the test results should work to increase that level, which is what companies such as ESE World are hoping for.
Check out the full article here!
January 19, 2018
Water Pipes, The Freezing Cold, and You
The brutal cold sweeping across the American South right now has created many unfortunate cold weather consequences. Amongst these problems is the risk of bursting water pipes. Cold weather freezes water, which adds pressure in pipes. Should the cycle of water freezing and thawing continue, eventually the pressure may be too much to handle for the pipe. That gives us two important questions to ask. First of all, what can you do to prevent your pipes from bursting? And secondly, how much does the material matter when it comes to handling cold weather?
To start off, it is extremely important to know where your water shut-off valve is located before anything bad happens to your pipes. Simply put, if a pipe bursts and is spewing water all over your house, that is not the time to try and locate the valve. Knowing this information ahead of time can spare you large amounts of water damage in the event of a pipe rupture. Beyond just knowing where the shut-off valve is, knowing your pipe system is also important. Some pipes will be in more vulnerable areas, like in an attic or underneath a sink in a cabinet. Taking steps to mitigate problems, such as insulating vulnerable exposed pipe and opening cabinets to warm them up, can make them much more durable when the outside temperature drops. For a proactive solution to keep your pipes from bursting, consider letting water drip or trickle slowly out of your faucets. Keeping water moving helps to relieve pressure on the system, putting your pipes at less of a risk. Overall, doing these steps helps to actively ward off bursting pipes.
Our next question involves pipe material. Different materials respond to freezing and thawing in different ways. Usually the materials discussion boils down to metal and plastic pipe. But it’s important to note the different varieties of materials within those broad categories. Just like how ductile iron pipes and copper pipes are not the same, different types of plastic pipes are different from each other. For instance, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes tend to get brittle in cold weather. Becoming brittle makes them higher risks for bursts. As PVC pipe is a common underground sprinkler system, winterizing these systems by using air to blow all of the water out is the best way to prevent breaks during the winter. Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) pipes are more flexible than the rigid PVC pipes, allowing them to stretch during freezes and return to their natural state in thaws. There’s a bigger risk at the connections than in the middle of the pipes.
In the end, your best defense against pipe bursts is knowledge. Know what steps you can take to help winterize your pipe systems. Being aware of what kind of pipes you have and how they respond to cold weather puts you one step ahead of the weather. And don’t forget that if you need a plastic pipe consultant, Bryan Hauger Consulting has an expert for your project.
January 12, 2018
Plastics Hall of Fame Class of 2018
The Plastics Hall of Fame has announced the addition of ten new members for 2018. The organization has deemed the new inductees to have made significant contributions to the industry as a whole. The members to be inducted are Robert Ackley, Ira Boots, Karlheinz Bourdon, David Cornell, Donna Davis, Donald Graham, Steve Maguire, Max McDaniel, Martin Stark, and Hideo Tanaka. Dr. Hauger would like to extend congratulations to all of the new members, including his former co-worker Mr. McDaniel. The ceremony will take place during ANTEC and NPE 2018 in Orlando, Florida.
To learn more about attending the ceremony, or to view the profiles of this year’s inductees, check out the Hall of Fame’s website here.
January 5, 2018
Big Project, Big Costs - Chicago's Pipe Replacement Challenges
In a big city like Chicago, replacing aging cast iron pipes with new polyethylene pipes is no small task. The city is currently in the process of replacing well over 1500 miles of the old material with these new plastic pipes, and are doing so at a fairly fast pace. However, problems are arising with concerns about the cost of the whole project. Already, since the project’s inception in 2009, the estimated cost has increased from $2.6 billion all the way up to $7.8 billion in 2017. Regulators have been urged by the state’s Attorney General to limit project spending in order to keep the costs more reasonable, but the gas company believes that slowing down the project could jeopardize the safety of the system because of the state of the old pipes. Another concern with the spending is that a state law that allows the gas company to add a surcharge to their customers for such improvement projects. This could see annual heating bills double over the next 15 years. Regardless of the costs, the plan is to have the entire city’s gas pipe system replaced by 2040.
Read the full article here.
HDPE Can Be Recycled More Than 10 Times
A recent scientific test performed by a German waste management and sustainability company suggests that high-density polyethylene containers can and should be recycled more often. ESE World successfully developed a test method that confirms how many times HDPE can be re-processed through injection molding without starting to degrade. This finding should help to increase the practical lifespan of this material, commonly found in plastic bottles. Such findings should also help to increase the rate of recycling amongst them. Statistically speaking, the recycling rate of HDPE bottles sat at only 33% in 2016, which was a slight decrease from previous years. Overall, the test results should work to increase that level, which is what companies such as ESE World are hoping for.
Check out the full article here!
January 19, 2018
Water Pipes, The Freezing Cold, and You
The brutal cold sweeping across the American South right now has created many unfortunate cold weather consequences. Amongst these problems is the risk of bursting water pipes. Cold weather freezes water, which adds pressure in pipes. Should the cycle of water freezing and thawing continue, eventually the pressure may be too much to handle for the pipe. That gives us two important questions to ask. First of all, what can you do to prevent your pipes from bursting? And secondly, how much does the material matter when it comes to handling cold weather?
To start off, it is extremely important to know where your water shut-off valve is located before anything bad happens to your pipes. Simply put, if a pipe bursts and is spewing water all over your house, that is not the time to try and locate the valve. Knowing this information ahead of time can spare you large amounts of water damage in the event of a pipe rupture. Beyond just knowing where the shut-off valve is, knowing your pipe system is also important. Some pipes will be in more vulnerable areas, like in an attic or underneath a sink in a cabinet. Taking steps to mitigate problems, such as insulating vulnerable exposed pipe and opening cabinets to warm them up, can make them much more durable when the outside temperature drops. For a proactive solution to keep your pipes from bursting, consider letting water drip or trickle slowly out of your faucets. Keeping water moving helps to relieve pressure on the system, putting your pipes at less of a risk. Overall, doing these steps helps to actively ward off bursting pipes.
Our next question involves pipe material. Different materials respond to freezing and thawing in different ways. Usually the materials discussion boils down to metal and plastic pipe. But it’s important to note the different varieties of materials within those broad categories. Just like how ductile iron pipes and copper pipes are not the same, different types of plastic pipes are different from each other. For instance, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes tend to get brittle in cold weather. Becoming brittle makes them higher risks for bursts. As PVC pipe is a common underground sprinkler system, winterizing these systems by using air to blow all of the water out is the best way to prevent breaks during the winter. Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) pipes are more flexible than the rigid PVC pipes, allowing them to stretch during freezes and return to their natural state in thaws. There’s a bigger risk at the connections than in the middle of the pipes.
In the end, your best defense against pipe bursts is knowledge. Know what steps you can take to help winterize your pipe systems. Being aware of what kind of pipes you have and how they respond to cold weather puts you one step ahead of the weather. And don’t forget that if you need a plastic pipe consultant, Bryan Hauger Consulting has an expert for your project.
January 12, 2018
Plastics Hall of Fame Class of 2018
The Plastics Hall of Fame has announced the addition of ten new members for 2018. The organization has deemed the new inductees to have made significant contributions to the industry as a whole. The members to be inducted are Robert Ackley, Ira Boots, Karlheinz Bourdon, David Cornell, Donna Davis, Donald Graham, Steve Maguire, Max McDaniel, Martin Stark, and Hideo Tanaka. Dr. Hauger would like to extend congratulations to all of the new members, including his former co-worker Mr. McDaniel. The ceremony will take place during ANTEC and NPE 2018 in Orlando, Florida.
To learn more about attending the ceremony, or to view the profiles of this year’s inductees, check out the Hall of Fame’s website here.
January 5, 2018
Big Project, Big Costs - Chicago's Pipe Replacement Challenges
In a big city like Chicago, replacing aging cast iron pipes with new polyethylene pipes is no small task. The city is currently in the process of replacing well over 1500 miles of the old material with these new plastic pipes, and are doing so at a fairly fast pace. However, problems are arising with concerns about the cost of the whole project. Already, since the project’s inception in 2009, the estimated cost has increased from $2.6 billion all the way up to $7.8 billion in 2017. Regulators have been urged by the state’s Attorney General to limit project spending in order to keep the costs more reasonable, but the gas company believes that slowing down the project could jeopardize the safety of the system because of the state of the old pipes. Another concern with the spending is that a state law that allows the gas company to add a surcharge to their customers for such improvement projects. This could see annual heating bills double over the next 15 years. Regardless of the costs, the plan is to have the entire city’s gas pipe system replaced by 2040.
Read the full article here.
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