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An investigation into the potential for PVC reduction in residential building drainage lines : a triple bottom line analysis of PVC vs. HDPE

University of British Columbia. Sustainability Office

One of the most popular building materials in the world when looking for flexibility and cheap cost, PVC comes with numerous harmful side-effects to both the environment and the people surrounding it at various stages of its life cycle. One possible alternative is another plastic: HDPE. This study analyzes PVC’s environmental and social effects from its production, to its implementation in the residential sector of UBC piping, and finally its disposal as either waste or recyclable material, while comparing it to HDPE. Multiple secondary sources, consisting of peer-reviewed journal articles and books, were consulted for research into both materials. Research revealed that the key harmful effects of PVC include the release of dust in production facilities, the leaching of its additives into the liquid it is transporting, and the release of chlorine toxins into the atmosphere during recycling and waste disposal. HDPE comes without any of PVC’s harmful environmental and social side effects while at the same time providing better material properties, at the expense of a higher cost. It is recommended to switch to the use of HDPE piping when installing drainage lines and considering using HDPE for piping in the water system if UBC Technical Guidelines are changed to allow it in the future. i Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”

Text

University of British Columbia. APSC 261; UBC Social Ecological Economic Development Studies (SEEDS) Student Report

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0108806

Applied Science, Faculty of

Unreviewed

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/