Is there a minimum order quantity that can be collected at any one time from a site?
Yes. The minimum quantity for collection for each site visit is 6 bulk bags. A bulk bag will hold 350 to 400 standard tree shelters, so 6 bags is approximately 2100+ tubes.
Can any Tubex tree shelter be collected?
Yes. Any genuine Tubex product, regardless of age or condition can be collected and recycled. They will be sorted into different materials (polymers) during the recycling process.
Can any plastic tree shelter or protection be collected and recycled by Tubex?
No. Tubex are only able to recycle genuine Tubex products due to the unknown materials in other products.
Can I use any bulk bag?
No. You should only use the dedicated Tubex branded bulk bags because this enables Tubex to calculate the quantity of material available for recycling.
How much do the bulk bags weigh when full?
It depends on the type of Tubex product and how efficiently the bulk bags are filled, however as an estimate allow for 35-60kg.
Will the collection vehicle have a forklift truck on it?
No. The bulk bags will need to be hand lifted (two person job) onto the collection lorry.
When will the collection scheme run?
Collections will run from May to September (ie outside of the bare root planting season), however bags can be sent out all year round to be filled in preparation for collection.
Why do I have to pay for the bulk bags?
The cost per bag covers postage, haulage, cleaning and processing. Whilst this is a not-for-profit Scheme, there are costs associated with recycling which need to be covered to make the scheme sustainable for the long-term.
Who fills the bulk bags?
The customer is responsible for filling the bulk bags.
Who collects the bulk bags?
Contact BHT to arrange collection of your bulk bags. Tubex will collect them. Note – Bulk bags must be left in a location where an articulated lorry will not be obstructed upon collection.
What happens to my bulk bags after collection?
Once collected Tubex will take your filled bulk bags either directly to their facility for sorting and recycling, or to BHT HQ for storage until they are ready to process them.
Where is the Tubex Recycling Centre?
It is centrally located in Derbyshire.
What happens to the bulk bag when it arrives at the Recycling Centre?
The tubes are sorted and cleaned and then processed into plastic pellets.
What happens to the recycled plastic?
The recycled plastic pellets created from the old Tubex tubes go on to be used in more Tubex tree protection or to Berry Global (who own Tubex) to assist in their manufacturing processes.
Tubex standard tree shelters already contain up to 30% of recycled polymer and the Tubex netting up to 85%. Tubex are aiming for their Standard tree shelters to be manufactured with 100% recycled content as soon as they have enough availability of recycled material. For more information please see tubex.com/recycling/.