Up to date cost calculations are critical to help the owners of water and sewer networks make informed decisions on material selection. At an international webinar arranged by the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA), Alessandro Marangoni from Althesys Strategic Consultants presented a study on PVC pipe competitiveness.
The study, which has been sponsored by PVC4Pipes, investigates Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of PVC pipes and cost benefit of recycling. In the TCO part of the study unplasticised PVC (PVC-U) is compared to other non-plastic materials for water and sewer pipelines lines. The analysis considers the costs to purchase pipes, install, operate and maintain and dismantle the pipeline in Germany and Italy. PVC-U pipes show significant economic advantages over ductile iron and glass fibre polyester (GRP) in water lines and concrete or clay in the sewer lines.
Going beyond the TCO, the study also finds clear economic advantages of recycling PVC pipes. The Cost Benefit Analysis considers PVC pipes, as used in water and sewer networks by utilities in Germany, France and Italy. On one hand, the analysis considers the costs of recovering, separating and treating PVC pipes at their end of life for each country. On the other hand, the study accounts for the pipe waste disposal savings, the value of the recovered pipe material, the carbon emission savings, the positive economic and employment fall-outs from the recycling business. The results yield a positive benefit to cost balance, as the benefits brought by recycling overweigh its costs.
The presentation was well received by the international audience. Several attendees took the opportunity to ask questions in the Q&A session.
PVC4Pipes would like to thank SAPPMA and its CEO Jan Venter for the opportunity to present the study and answer questions!
