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In recent years, I've seen a noticeable shift in how holiday parks and resorts are approaching pet-friendliness. With more guests choosing to bring their dogs along on their getaways, creating a "Pet Positive" experience could be the next step to truly stand out. Holiday parks can go beyond "dog-friendly" policies by providing tailored spaces that allow pets to enjoy their stay as much as their owners. One idea I've often thought about (especially as a pet owner myself) is the benefit of adding dog agility fields that guests can reserve for private or group sessions. This extra touch would be valuable for visitors who, like me, travel with dogs that might be nervous around other animals or in unfamiliar settings.Why Offer Dedicated Dog Agility Fields?Statistics from sources like Hoseasons highlight the growing popularity of pet-friendly accommodations, with over 70% of travelers seeking spaces that cater to their pets. But being "Pet Positive" isn’t just about allowing pets on-site; it's about enhancing their experience. By securing a field dedicated to agility and play, holiday parks can provide a safe, enriching environment that guests can book either as a complimentary perk or as an added, paid option.Such a facility allows for secure off-lead time, which has been shown to be beneficial for dogs' mental and physical health. According to studies, off-lead exercise can increase dogs' happiness and reduce anxiety by over 20%, thanks to the freedom to explore and expend energy. Not only does this promote exercise, but it also reduces stress—especially important for dogs visiting new places, where typical walking options may feel restricted.What Makes Our Agility Equipment Perfect for Holiday ParksMy team and I have crafted our dog agility equipment with ease of installation and maintenance in mind. We deliver it mostly assembled, with some items requiring just eight bolts to put together, ensuring a simple setup. And the best part? Made from 100% recycled plastic, our equipment is weatherproof, durable, and maintenance-free. Once installed, you can "set it and forget it," so your staff can focus on other areas of guest service while the equipment remains ready for use in all seasons.As a dog owner, I know that I’d be thrilled to find a safe, well-equipped area for my dog to run and play off-lead in a holiday setting. This simple addition could be a game-changer, setting your holiday park apart by meeting the needs of the many guests who are eager to bring their pets along for the adventure.By adopting the "Pet Positive" philosophy, holiday parks can create spaces that cater not only to people but also to their four-legged companions. Investing in dog agility equipment offers a distinctive, meaningful way to connect with pet-owning guests—and it's one that they, and their pets, will remember.

An Exeter-based specialist plastic recycling company DCW Polymers has teamed up with South West Water to deliver a pioneering recycling partnership to reprocess over 320 tonnes of tiny waste bio-beads used in waste water treatment otherwise destined for landfill, into new water filtration media.Innovation in Plastic RecyclingWith the first innovation of its kind, DCW Polymers has piloted a new circular process for the water company, which will ensure its bio-bead products, which would otherwise have been discarded, are now instead being used in a circular way to create new, valuable and useful water treatment filtration media.South West Water has a small number of BAFF (biological aerated flooded filter) plants installed across its estate. The BAFF plant is a secondary or tertiary treatment stage for wastewater effluent that utilises plastic ‘bio-beads’ as a media for bacteria to colonise. Air bubbles are blown upwards through the bio-bead filter media, and this provides a steady stream of oxygen for the biomass to support the oxidation process, which reduces the levels of organic matter and unwanted elements in the effluent such as ammonia.In June 2021, DCW Polymers collected the first batch, just over 80 tonnes of used bio-beads, from South West Water. The used bio-beads were reprocessed back in to newer, larger filter media product and delivered back to South West Water for re-purposing in their BAFF plants.After a successful trial at one of the water company’s waste water treatment works, to ensure that the performance of the BAFF plant was maintained, a second, larger batch of approximately 240 tonnes of obsolete bio-beads was collected by DCW Polymers in August 2023 and reprocessed in the same way.Plastic Recycling SuccessSimon continues, “We are delighted that there are some significant benefits being achieved by this innovative new solution, beyond the obvious diversion of the product to landfill.”Gavin Lincoln from South West Water commented, “This is a long-term solution for us and provides a sustainable and secure on-going supply for our replacement filter media. We really appreciate the DCW Polymers team’s  expert knowledge and their perseverance in finding a circular solution for us that really works.”For more information about DCW Polymers plastic recycling services, call 01392 535 353 or email sales@dcwpolymers.co.uk

With the topic of global warming becoming increasingly important, it’s integral that we look at different ways in which we can contribute positively to the environment. Scientists have warned for years now that the amount of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere is having a destructive effect on our planet. When making positive lifestyle changes to benefit the environment, recycling should certainly not be overlooked. Recycling prevents materials from going to landfills and instead allows us to use these materials to create an entirely different product. One primary example of this could be recycled plastic furniture.Find out why you should invest in recycled plastic furniture and how DCW Polymers can make this possible!Benefits the EnvironmentIt goes without saying that the main benefit of recycled plastic furniture is that it doesn’t harm the environment. This type of furniture is made by processing plastic into granules, which is then finally put through an extrusion machine to create both practical and sustainable garden furniture. Considering that recycled plastic furniture uses materials that already exist within our environment, this minimises the amount of energy we use and reduces the need for landfills. If you’re trying to become more environmentally conscious, then recycled plastic furniture could be just the thing for you!Appearance is KeyDespite being made up of different materials, recycled plastic furniture certainly doesn’t compromise on its appearance. Whilst other types of mainstream furniture has the tendency to rot over time, you don’t have this issue because the furniture is not made of wood. This means that you can have peace of mind that you are investing in furniture that will stand the test of time. Also, wood furniture has the ability to become damaged due to fluctuations in temperature. With recycled plastic furniture, you don’t have to worry about the appearance degrading over time.Low MaintenanceThe appearance of the garden can somewhat be the pride and joy in many homes. Whether it be ensuring the plants are healthy or jet-washing the patio area, it’s undeniable that the garden area can be quite difficult to maintain. By investing in recycled plastic furniture, you can be confident that you’re receiving something that requires little to no maintenance. As aforementioned, this type of furniture is rot-free and weather resistant, meaning that you can focus on other areas of the garden to make sure it’s in the best condition possible!At DCW Polymers, we’re a waste disposal company that knows how important it is to be environmentally friendly, which is why supply high-quality recycled plastic furniture. Using plastic waste from the South West, we have the ability to provide furniture to our customers that contributes positively to the environment without holding back on appearance or quality. Whether you’re after recycled fencing or decking, we’ve got you covered. Get in touch!

In a bid to strengthen the South West’s circular economy and to tackle throwaway culture, a leading plastics recycling and reprocessing plant has invested £290,000 in machinery and facilities at its specialist plastics reprocessing centre.DCW Polymers has introduced a new 10,000ltr fountain blender, an extruder machine and a mezzanine to its Marsh Barton plastics recycling and reprocessing plant. Together, the machinery will increase production of DCW Polymers' recycled plastic furniture range by 400% and create eight new jobs.Waste plastics collected from businesses across the South West are taken to DCW Polymers where they are shredded into plastic granules by the new extruder. This material then goes back into the manufacturing process. The extruder, purchased from Boston Matthews in Worcester, allows DCW Polymers team of plastic recycling experts to process five times more plastic waste, improving productivity and keeping as much of the region’s plastic waste as possible away from landfill.The fountain blender can blend approximately four tonnes of recycled granulated plastic at any one time. It provides a mix of material and colour suitable for the manufacturing of DCW Polymers' recycled garden range which includes benches, dining sets, tables, chairs, fencing, decking and dog agility equipment.To complement the new machinery, the family-run firm has invested £60,000 to build a new mezzanine which has increased the square footage of DCW Polymers by 2,880 sq ft. The extra floor provides further storage space for DCW Polymers' recycled garden range, ensuring that products can be ready to meet the growing customer demand.Simon Almond, DCW Polymers Managing Director, said: “We’re passionate about achieving a more circular economy in the South West. Circular economies are vital to have in place if we are to win the fight against climate change as they lower carbon emissions, reduce the use of non-renewable resources and ensure that waste is kept away from landfill sites. We’re proud of how DCW Polymers is already contributing to our region’s circular economy with our recycled garden furniture range and our recent investment will continue to drive our growth in this area.“It’s important to us that we support the UK manufacturing industry and we were pleased to source our new extruder machine from Worcester based Boston Matthews. Our new machinery allows us to scale up production to meet the growing demand for sustainable, durable outdoor furniture which isn’t detrimental to the environment.”A sustainable alternative to timber, the plastic furniture and products are maintenance free, will not rot, splinter or corrode and will not require painting or treating. Each item is made using 100% plastic waste collected from South West businesses and holds a 10-year guarantee.DCW Polymers is the only specialist plastics recycling and reprocessing plant south of Bridgwater. With a fleet of 70 modern vehicles, the commercial recycling firm can collect items from both businesses and wider communities, providing a processing service for bulky plastics such as plastic bins, playground equipment, garden furniture, plastic pallet crates and even larger items such as kayaks and fuel tanks.For more information about DCW Polymers services, call 01392 535353 or click here. Thank you to Hannah Finch at BusinessLive for sharing our news. Click here to read her article.

Recycled plastic furniture. Tick. Fence posts. Tick. Decking. Tick. Dog agility equipment. Tick. Since the launch of our recycled plastic furniture range in 2021, we’ve created a variety of products in a bid to create a more circular economy in the South West. Now, we’ve partnered with commercial outdoor play specialists Rhino Play to create children’s play equipment made from recycled plastic.At DCW Polymers we manufacture plastic planks from the waste plastic we collect from South West businesses. We launched our range with outdoor garden furniture and have since developed the manufacturing process to create even more products. We thought it was about time we ventured into play equipment!Partnering with Rhino PlayFounded in 2013, Newton Abbot based Rhino Play creates commercial play equipment for a variety of businesses including schools, local councils and holiday parks. Having delivered play equipment to thousands of customers to date, Rhino Play was looking for a more sustainable, longer-lasting alternative to timber.Enter DCW Polymers. Our team of plastic recycling experts can mould plastic waste into planks. This recycled material can then be used by Rhino Play to create bespoke play equipment for a variety of outdoor spaces. This allows Rhino Play to become more environmentally responsible when choosing its materials.The partnership has only just begun but Rhino Play has already received three orders for play equipment made from DCW Polymers' recycled plastic material.Stuart Hunt, Sales and Design Manager at Rhino Play, commented: “We are delighted to be working with DCW Polymers on our new recycled plastic range. It’s great to know that we are giving new life to plastic waste by creating very durable, long-lasting products which can be recycled again in the future. We can now offer our clients alternatives to timber that weren’t originally available. This recycled product does not rot and is extremely strong but innovative in its design.”Rhino Play works closely with every customer to create the perfect sustainable design which will fit within their commercial outdoor space. The team of play specialists can create bespoke set-ups using hundreds of designs. From Adventure Climbers to Pirate Ships, Playhouses to Sand Pits, there’s something for everyone.Enhance your sustainability credentialsPurchasers of the new play equipment made from recycled plastic will benefit from a 25-year guarantee. The equipment will not rot, splinter or corrode and will not require painting or treating. Little feet can stomp all over the play equipment without doing any damage.It can also enhance a business’ sustainability credentials. DCW Polymers is a Zero to Landfill company so by purchasing recycled plastic play equipment, customers can purchase with the confidence that they are contributing to a truly circular economy, keeping waste away from landfill.Simon Almond, Managing Director at DCW Polymers, commented: “Our recycled plastic furniture range knows no limits! We’re always trying to push the boundaries to unlock the potential plastic waste has to create the best recycled products in the UK. We kick-started this initiative with plastic furniture but it has quickly grown. We are now pleased to partner with Rhino Play to bring the South West sustainable play equipment.”Simon continued: “As a Zero to Landfill business, we like to support other like-minded businesses who have a thirst for becoming more sustainable. This is why we have chosen to partner with local business Rhino Play. We're excited to bring more sustainable products to companies across the South West.”To cope with the increasing demand for recycled plastic products, DCW Polymers has recently invested £290,000 in new machinery and facilities, increasing production of the range by 400%.Are you keen to join hundreds of other businesses across the South West and invest in recycled plastic products? Does your old and tired play equipment need replacing? Click here for more information or contact our team on 01392 535353.

Year five and six pupils from Kenn C of E Primary School collected over several bags of litter during a beach clean which will now be transformed into a recycled plastic bench for their playground.DCW Polymers partnered with Keep Britain Tidy’s Ocean Recovery Project, supported by South West Water, to organise the beach clean in Exmouth. The clean was set-up to give local school children a valuable lesson in recycling and the dangers plastic litter can have on the coastal landscape and its wildlife.After a short talk on safety and ocean plastic by Ocean Recovery Project Manager Neil Hembrow, the children grabbed their beach cleaning kits and set off to collect as much litter as possible from Exmouth’s famous golden sands.By lunchtime, the young environmentalists had collected several bags of litter from the popular East Devon beach which welcomes thousands of visitors every year. Helping the pupils understand the value of a circular loop when it comes to waste, DCW Polymers has taken the collection to its specialist plastics reprocessing plant in Exeter.Over 20kgs of marine plastic waste, which includes the children’s collection, will go into the making of a DCW Polymers' recycled bench alongside other recycled plastic waste. The material will be shredded into granules and melted and moulded into posts and planks to create the Torbay bench style. This backless contemporary bench will be donated by the Ocean Recovery Project and DCW Polymers to Kenn C of E Primary School as a thank you for the pupils’ hard work in cleaning up their local coastline.Neil Hembrow, Ocean Recovery Project Manager, commented: “It was a pleasure to partner with DCW Polymers to invite the children of Kenn C of E Primary School on a beach clean. We started our recycling adventures with DCW Polymers over seven years ago and it’s fantastic to be involved in a new innovative project that gives back to the community.“Exmouth is one of the most popular beaches in our region thanks to miles of golden sand and its glistening waters, perfect for swimming and a whole host of watersports. It’s wonderful that the children were so enthusiastic about helping us clean up the beach and learn about the circular economy.“I was very impressed with their positive attitude and enthusiasm for the task ahead. It’s this generation that can have a huge positive impact on our planet. We hope the children enjoy their new recycled plastic bench!”DCW Polymers has a historic link with Kenn C of E Primary School as the Managing Director’s daughters both attended the primary school. DCW Polymers hope to partner with even more schools in the future to clean up the South West’s coastline.Jason Goozee, Head of DCW Polymers, commented: “As a Zero to Landfill recycling company which strives to encourage others to protect the environment in which they live and operate in, it’s important to us to participate in community projects like this one. Educating and inspiring the next generation is the key to ensuring our environment doesn’t suffer any more damage in the years to come.“We were keen to use the plastic waste the children collected in the making of one of our Torbay benches to show the pupils how waste can be given a new lease of life. The potential waste has is incredible and that’s what we aim to prove, diverting as much waste away from landfill as we possibly can and turning it into new products.”DCW Polymers, leading South West plastics recycling and reprocessing plant, partnered with Keep Britain Tidy’s Ocean Recovery Project to run this beach clean. Launched  by Keep Britain Tidy, the Ocean Recovery Project was launched to help volunteer groups to recycle beach litter after it completed 1,200 beach cleans of its own. To date, the Project has recycled over 60 tonnes of material from the South West.For more information on the Ocean Recovery Project, visit www.keepbritaintidy.org and for more information on DCW Polymers, including its recycled furniture range, visit www.dcwpolymers.co.uk or call 01392 535353.

DCW Polymers, the South West’s only specialist plastics recycling and reprocessing plant, has raised £5,736.28 for local charities by recycling plastic tubs and bottle tops donated by the general public, an initiative known as Recycle & Raise.The funds, which have been split equally between Dartmoor Zoological Park and mental health charity Mind, were raised through DCW Polymers’ Recycle & Raise initiative. The appeal asked the general public to donate plastic tubs and bottle tops for recycling which DCW Polymers has shredded into granules.The granules have been used in manufacturing DCW Polymers' recycled plastic furniture range which has raised approximately 8p per tub recycled for Dartmoor Zoo and Mind.Over 85 businesses, schools and organisations across the South West volunteered as collection points for the tubs, bottle tops and takeaway containers, with the general public donating 1,925kg of tubs and 673kg of bottle tops in a bid to support the charities. The weight of the tubs equates to 64,166 tubs recycled through this year’s Recycle and Raise campaign.Hosted by DCW Polymers annually since 2019, the Recycle & Raise appeal has raised over £11,000 for charitable causes.DCW Polymers Managing Director, Simon Almond, said: “The enthusiasm from the public to help us raise as much money as we can for these charities this year has been incredible. So much so that we have experienced our most successful fundraising year yet, raising over £5,500 for Dartmoor Zoo and Mind.“These are two charities that I am personally very passionate about. As a trustee of Dartmoor Zoo, I’m invested in the incredible conservation work the team do, and Mind is a charity that we were keen to support in light of the toll the pandemic has had on mental health and wellbeing.“I’d like to thank everyone who has donated to the scheme as without you, we couldn’t have raised these vital funds for charity. Since 2019, we’ve smashed each of our targets every year and as the initiative grows, we hope to raise even more funds during next year’s campaign which will kick-off in October 2022.”Thanks to the enthusiasm of the public and the success of the appeal, DCW Polymers is now collecting plastic tubs and bottle tops all year round. The funds raised from this will also go towards the annual Recycle & Raise scheme, giving DCW Polymers and the general public the opportunity to support local charities either side of Recycle & Raise season.Clean plastic tubs and bottle tops can be taken to the Recycle & Raise drop-off point outside Princesshay’s Bee Hive Information Centre, The Hive, located in Bampfylde Lane in Exeter. In addition, clean plastic tubs and bottle tops can be taken to any of DCW's or DCW Polymers' Exeter or Plymouth depots. Donators can locate their nearest depot by visiting www.dcwpolymers.co.uk.For those who cannot easily access the permanent drop-off points, the Recycle & Raise seasonal appeal for plastic tubs and bottle tops will return in November 2022 and will run until February 2023. DCW Polymers encourages businesses from across Devon and Cornwall to sign-up, creating plenty of accessible drop-off points across the region. If your business would like to sign up as a drop off point to help raise funds for DCW Polymers' chosen charities, please email emily@dcwpolymers.co.uk.

 One way in which plastics can be recycled is by creating recycled plastic furniture. At DCW Polymers, we hold strong values when it comes to creating new products from recycled materials. That’s why we’re a company that are proud to supply recycled plastic furniture to our customers.So what exactly are the benefits of using recycled plastic outdoor furniture and how can it benefit you?Benefits of Recycled Plastic FurnitureIn view of the fact that recycled plastic furniture is a recent phenomenon, this means that you might not be aware of the countless benefits that it can offer. Not only is it good for our planet, but it can also offer so much more! Here are just some of the benefits that it affords:Environmentally-FriendlyAt DCW Polymers, all of our recycled plastic furniture uses lastic waste from the UK. We know how important it is to have furniture that contributes positively to the environment but doesn’t compromise on comfort or appearance. That’s why we provide furniture that can both enhance the appearance of your garden or public space, whilst providing maximum comfort.Rot-ProofOne of the main benefits of plastic furniture is that it is rot-free, meaning that it can out-live any wooden alternative. If you invest in recycled plastic furniture, then you know you are receiving a piece of furniture that will stand the test of time. Weather ResistantThe reason why recycled plastic furniture isn’t susceptible to rots can be placed down to the fact that it is weather resistant.  When you consider the unpredictability of British weather, you want garden furniture that you can depend on throughout the year. Plastic recycled garden furniture is the perfect solution, as it is resistant to all types of weather conditions.Low MaintenanceHaving plastic furniture is somewhat maintenance-free, all you have to do is set it up how you like, sit back and enjoy! As mentioned earlier, plastic furniture is rot-free so you don’t have to spend time and effort trying to continuously breathe life back into your furniture. Plastic furniture can also be known for its resilience, battling off stains and losses in colour. Not only that, but it’s much easier to clean plastic furniture when compared to other materials. Not only can plastic furniture fit perfectly in gardens at home but it’s also perfect for those who work in the hospitality industry, where spilt food and drinks are aplenty.Safe for ChildrenAs aforementioned, plastic furniture is easy to clean and maintain. Considering that children aren’t exactly known for holding things still with their butterfingers, you want to have furniture that is easy to clean. Furthermore, having plastic furniture completely removes the possibility of splinters, so children are safe at all times. In this instance, plastic furniture such as benches would fit perfectly into school playgrounds.Types of Plastic FurnitureTake a look at the different types of plastic furniture we make through recycling:Recycled Plastic BenchBenches are just one piece of furniture that can be created through plastic recycling.  This piece of furniture could fit perfectly in a garden, balcony or playground.Recycled Plastic ChairSimilar to the bench, a recycled plastic chair would fit seamlessly into a garden, balcony or break area. At DCW Polymers, all of our recycled garden furniture products are made straight from plastic collected in the South West. By doing so, you know that you’ll be sitting on plastic that would otherwise just be sat in a landfill, so having this piece of furniture shows your commitment to the environment!Coffee TableWho doesn’t love a coffee table? What makes this piece of furniture unique is the fact that you can actually leave it outside because plastic furniture requires virtually no maintenance. Whereas with other furniture you would have to keep a keen eye on it to see whether there are any cracks or deformities.Ottery BenchThis recycled plastic outdoor furniture is perfect for socialising with friends. Having a corner bench can make your area seem more inviting and improve the aesthetics of your garden. Not only that, but corner benches can offer maximum comfortability. These types of benches would best be suited in both public and home settings.DCW Polymers, Supplying Recycled Garden Furniture You Can Rely OnIf you are convinced that recycled plastic outdoor furniture would be a welcomed addition to your space, then look no further than DCW Polymers.  Supplying a range of recycled furniture including benches and tables, we’re proud to supply products that are durable, weather-resistant and low maintenance. Not only that, but we can also provide recycled plastic fencing and decking too! To find out more about the products and services that we offer, then enquire today or give us a call on 01392 535 353.

DCW Polymers are proud to announce that for every single item of furniture we sell, we will plant one tree in Devon!This means that not only does our furniture save trees, but we're giving more back to the world too.We've kickstarted the planting with 100 Oak trees planted near Crediton by our Purchase Ledger & Marketing teams this March! In partnership with OakOffset on land kindly donated by a local landowner. These 100 trees are estimated to sequester up to 100 tonnes of CO2 over their lifetime!There are numerous schemes available for people to donate money to plant trees, but at DCW Polymers we decided to go the extra mile and plant the trees ourselves. Rather than just donating the money to a charity, we got our boots & gloves on and planted our 100 trees in one afternoon!The team had a fantastic time in great March weather planting the first 100 DCW Polymers trees which will provide a lasting legacy to the local area for hundreds of years to come!What a fabulous honour to be planting trees that people will appreciate for hundreds of years to come! Not only does it help to sequester CO2 from the atmosphere but it promotes local wildlife too. Our recycled furniture is as eco-friendly as they come - our production is powered by solar energy, the furniture is made from 100% recycled plastic from local businesses, and now we plant a tree for every item we sell too!Emily Almond, Business Development ManagerOakOffset is a not-for-profit who focus on the tree, not the money. The English Oak supports more species than any other UK tree and thrive along side all other native species, so it is a perfect choice.If you're thinking of purchasing some of our recycled plastic furniture this year, remember that not only are you saving trees, you're giving more trees back to the world too!

Visitors to Exeter city centre can now recycle plastic bottle tops and tubs at a brand-new drop-off point in Princesshay Shopping Centre and help contribute to a more circular economy.Leading South West plastics recycling and reprocessing plant, DCW Polymers, has partnered with the popular shopping destination to run its Recycle & Raise scheme all year round. The plastic recycling scheme which asks the public to donate plastic tubs and bottle tops to raise funds for Dartmoor Zoo and mental health charity mind, was previously operated by DCW Polymers only over the festive period.Now, shoppers can take their plastic tubs and bottle tops throughout the year to the new Recycle & Raise drop-off point stationed outside Princesshay’s Bee Hive Information Centre, The Hive. Located in Bampfylde Lane between Superdry and Chandos Deli, donations can be placed in the Recycle & Raise collection bin 24 hours a day, seven days a week.The most popular items donated are plastic confectionary tubs, but keen recyclers can also donate ice cream, biscuit and cracker tubs, milk bottle tops and takeaway containers. The materials with a number five or PP symbol on the container that are donated to Recycle & Raise will be sent to the DCW Polymers recycling plant in Exeter where they will be shredded into granules. The granules will then be used in manufacturing DCW Polymers' recycled plastic furniture range, which will raise approximately 8p per tub recycled for Dartmoor Zoo and Mind.Trevor Gomm, Operations Manager at Princesshay, said: “We are really pleased to partner with DCW Polymers on the Recycle and Raise project in the Centre.”Last year, the campaign raised over £4,000 for Dartmoor Zoo and Mind. Since its launch in 2019, Recycle & Raise has raised over £5,200 for charity with DCW Polymers collecting the equivalent of 65,000 tubs.DCW Polymers Business Support Manager, Emily Almond, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Princesshay Shopping Centre on board as our latest Recycle & Raise partner. With 13.4 million people visiting Princesshay every year, we hope the new drop-off point will be inundated with donations, ensuring that we can raise vital funds for charity all year round and not just over the festive period.“As a Zero to Landfill company with a passion for creating a more sustainable environment, we like to partner with like-minded businesses. It feels like a natural fit for us to collect Recycle & Raise donations from The Hive which was built in 2012 as part of Princesshay’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. So, please bring your clean, empty tubs and tops with you next time you head into the city centre and help us Recycle plastic and Raise money for charity.”Donations can also be taken to temporary Recycle and Raise drop-off locations across Devon until Monday 28th February 2022. Visit www.dcw.co.uk/about/recycle-raise to locate your nearest drop-off point.

Tubs of sweets adorn the shelves at this time of year, ready for us to stock up on our favourite festive treats. Now, we're asking you to donate the empty plastic tubs - once the treats are gone - to raise vital funds for charity.We host our Recycle & Raise appeal every year and once again, we are asking you to donate plastic tubs for recycling to raise funds for Dartmoor Zoo and Mind.Last year, we raised over £4,000 for Dartmoor Zoo and Mind. Since its launch in 2019, Recycle & Raise has raised over £5,200 for charity with DCW Polymers collecting the equivalent of 65,000 tubs!It’s not just confectionery tubs we're asking for either. Ice cream, biscuit and cracker tubs, milk bottle tops and takeaway containers will all be collected as part of the Recycle & Raise campaign. The materials with a number five or PP symbol on the container that are donated to Recycle & Raise will be sent to the DCW Polymers' recycling plant in Exeter, where they will be shredded into granules. The granules will then be used in manufacturing our recycled plastic furniture range, which will raise approximately 8p per tub for Dartmoor Zoo and Mind.With an estimated 100 million tubs bought in the UK each year*, even if just 1% of the tubs in circulation get recycled, millions of pounds could be raised for charity.Over 85 South West businesses have signed up to become Recycle & Raise drop-off points already this year, making it even easier for you to donate your tubs! You can find your nearest drop-off location by viewing our interactive map at www.dcw.co.uk/about/recycle-raise.DCW Polymers Business Support Manager, Emily Almond, said: “We were shocked at the vast stacks of plastic tubs in the supermarkets at this time of year, and as a plastic recycling specialist we felt compelled to do what we can to keep the plastic out of landfill while raising vital funds for charity. We’ve received incredible support from local organisations and people collecting tubs in their offices.“We are so proud to have raised over £5,000 in two years and hope that with the support of the public in donating their plastic tubs, we can raise even more this year. By manufacturing the plastic granules into our recycled plastic furniture, we can donate ten times the amount per tub than if we just sold the granules to the manufacturing industry, so we can raise even more for our charities! Please spread the word and save us your clean, empty tubs and tops and help us Recycle plastic and Raise money for charity.”Donations need to be taken to drop-off locations by Monday 28th February 2022. If your business, school or organisation would like to become a drop-off point, please email emily@dcwpolymers.co.uk.*Calculated by Tub2Pub/Nielsen

With Plastic Free July well underway, DCW Polymers Managing Director Simon Almond reveals why he thinks a circular economy is so important in the fight against plastic waste, and the steps DCW Polymers is taking as one of the South West’s leading plastics and recycling processing plant...Plastic Free July is a fantastic awareness campaign which gets everyone thinking about how they can eliminate single-use plastic from their day-to-day lives, or at least cut down on the amount they send to landfill.This global movement is an annual event and every year we are faced with even more devastating plastic waste facts. Currently, nearly 300 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced each year with 1 million marine animals dying due to plastic pollution (source: Seed Scientific). Plastic Free July aims to make an impact by encouraging households, schools and workplaces to think about what sustainable swaps can be made to eliminate single use plastic, and it works! According to the leaders of the campaign, participants reduce their household waste and recycling by 21kg per person and contribute to a total saving of 940 million kg of plastic waste each year (source: Plastic Free July). It’s great to see that the campaign can make such an impact, and really heartens me, as personally I am invested in fighting back against plastic pollution.I’ve always been passionate about creating a circular economy and have never wanted anything to go to waste, even from a young age. I used to rescue unwanted bikes from skips so that I could repair them and sell them on to my school friends! I adopted a similar approach when I founded DCW Polymers. We strive to help our customers become Zero to Landfill companies but sometimes, this is challenging due to the specialist waste some businesses may produce. When situations like this occur, we work with customers to find an alternative solution to ensure we keep those materials away from landfill and give them a new lease of life.Plastic has often been considered as hard to recycle. Many plastic products are made out of several different materials, including chemicals, making it difficult for local authorities, for example, to recycle as the materials need to be separated. Globally 91% of plastic is not recycled and 75% of all plastic produced becomes waste (source: Seed Scientific). We want to change this at DCW Polymers and that is why we have researched and invested in processes which turn plastic waste into new products.Waste one-minute, stylish outdoor furniture the next We’ve invested in a new machine at our specialist plastics recycling centre, DCW Polymers in Exeter, which melts bulky plastic waste down and moulds it into large posts and planks. After weeks of trialling this new process and ironing out the kinks, we launched our outdoor furniture range in May 2021. Plastic waste from South West businesses processed by DCW Polymers is now being made into a range of picnic benches, tables, chairs, fence posts and decking for individuals to buy for their household or business. It’s an excellent sustainable alternative to timber as the plastic products are maintenance free, will not rot, splinter or corrode and will not require painting or creosoting. Bulky plastic waste such as pallets, kayaks, buckets, fuel tanks and wheelie bins make ideal sources of plastic for this type of process. You can find out more here.Striving for a circular economy In addition to being an authorised distributor of Storm Board product, we also provide the material that goes into the making of this weatherproof plywood alternative. What material is that? You guessed it. Waste plastic! This is the definition of a circular economy. Taking waste plastic and recycling it back into the manufacturing process reduces the need for virgin plastic products to be made and in turn, reduces energy consumption and CO2 emissions.We also run our own charity fundraising campaign every year which keeps plastics away from landfill. We’re all very familiar with the plastic confectionary tubs that feature as part of our Christmas celebrations every year, but did you know many of these end up in landfill? We launched Recycle & Raise in an attempt to put hundreds of these tubs to good use. Every year, we collect these empty plastic tubs from across the South West and shred them into plastic granules. This material then gets sold back into the manufacturing industry and we donate the funds to charity! This year, the campaign raised an incredible £4,096.60 for Dartmoor Zoo and Mind and we look forward to raising even more funds this winter. It’s just another example of how DCW Polymers is striving for a circular economy, and with this campaign, also helping those in need.Conversation around plastic waste is certainly loud this month and I hope this encourages you to think about what more you or your business could be doing to recycle plastic waste and to contribute to a more circular economy. Myself and my team are always looking at ways in which we can improve our own processes and I hope you will join us and do the same.If you are interested in finding out more about how you can recycle your bulky plastic waste with DCW Polymers, give my team a call on 01392 535353 or email sales@dcwpolymers.co.uk.All the best,Simon Almond