The scientific assessment conclusion states that the environmental impact of plastic pipe systems throughout the life-cycle, from cradle to grave is in fact, for
Scientific literature states that the environmental impact of plastic pipe systems throughout their lifecycle – for most applications and in line with most environmental standards – is lower than non-plastics pipe materials. As such, choosing to work with plastic pipes stands to be the right choice for protecting and preserving the environment.
It is a broadly held idea that plastics are challenging to manage at their end of life. In general, plastic pipes are highly recyclable into new products. They are also a viable source of a calorifically rich fuel that can be used in place of oil to generate power or heat. The primary limitation to increasing the recycling volume of plastic pipes is their lack of availability due to their durability and extremely long life expectancy (100 years+ in certain applications).