Materials we deal · PVC scrap
PVC pipe scrap
PVC pipe scrap is the largest rigid PVC stream in Pakistan: drainage pipe, sewer pipe, casing, conduit and irrigation pipe removed from construction sites, replaced networks and fabrication yards. Unplasticised PVC is dense, dimensionally stable, chemically resistant and — crucially — easy to regrind and re-compound. Al Qaryan Industries buys PVC pipe scrap and runs it through our own extrusion and compounding operation in Karachi, which means we are both a buyer of the scrap and a supplier of recycled PVC compound.
What PVC pipe scrap is
Rigid PVC pipe is made from polyvinyl chloride resin compounded with stabilisers, lubricants and fillers, with no plasticiser — which is why it is called uPVC, unplasticised. That formulation gives it a density of roughly 1.4 g/cm3, about forty percent heavier than polyethylene, and it is that density that shapes the whole recycling economics: a truckload of PVC pipe scrap weighs much more than a truckload of HDPE pipe, so transport cost per ton is lower and collection radius can be wider.
PVC pipe scrap covers everything from short offcuts produced when a plumber cuts a 4 inch drain line, to whole stacks of rejected 12 inch sewer pipe from a failed hydrostatic test, to kilometres of conduit stripped out of a demolished building. The source decides the quality, and the quality decides what the regrind can become.
PVC pipe scrap grades we buy
We separate PVC pipe scrap by colour, wall thickness and service history, because each combination behaves differently in the extruder. Clear and white material can go back into visible products; grey and black material goes into buried or hidden applications where colour does not matter.
| White or grey drainage pipe | Soil and waste systems, usually clean and easy to regrind. |
|---|---|
| Sewer pipe, large diameter | 110 mm to 400 mm and above; heavy wall, needs shredding before grinding. |
| Electrical conduit | Thin wall, light and bulky; often mixed with fittings and boxes. |
| Irrigation and agricultural pipe | Soiled and UV-exposed; requires washing and screening. |
| Blue or green pressure pipe offcuts | Clean fabrication waste with good colour consistency. |
| Casing pipe and borehole liner | Thick wall, excellent regrind quality. |
| Mixed PVC pipe with fittings | Contains solvent-cement joints and rubber rings which must be separated. |
Where our PVC pipe scrap comes from
Construction sites are the biggest single source. Every building project generates PVC pipe offcuts, and every demolition releases whole drainage stacks. We buy from contractors, from plumbing merchants clearing damaged stock, and from the dealers who collect construction waste. Fabricators who bend, cut and weld PVC pipe produce a steady stream of clean, single-colour offcuts that is the best quality PVC pipe scrap available anywhere.
Municipal replacement work supplies large diameter sewer and water pipe, and utility contractors supply conduit. We also import baled and shredded rigid PVC from the Gulf and Southeast Asia when the landed price supports it, generally for clean white material that our compound customers prefer.
Specification we work to
Rigid PVC is specified by K-value or viscosity number rather than melt flow index, because it does not flow on its own — it is processed with additives. For recycled pipe scrap we report the properties a compounder actually needs to set their formulation.
| Polymer | Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) |
|---|---|
| Typical density | Around 1.38 to 1.45 g/cm3 depending on filler and stabiliser system |
| K-value | Pipe grades are commonly in the K65 to K68 range; regrind values shift with additive history and are reported per lot |
| Form supplied | Regrind, shredded, or compounded pellet |
| Colour | White, grey, black, blue, mixed |
| Stabiliser note | Lead-stabilised material is kept separate from calcium-zinc material where documentation allows |
| Contamination | Rubber rings, solvent cement joints, metal inserts and soil removed before processing |
| Packing | 25 kg bags, jumbo bags or bulk |
| Documents | Batch report; third-party inspection available |
If you are buying recycled PVC for a product that will contact drinking water or be sold into the EU, tell us — the stabiliser system has to be documented, and we will only offer material where it can be.
Contamination that matters in PVC pipe scrap
PVC has three contaminants that do real damage. The first is plasticised PVC. Flexible PVC from hoses, cables and flooring contains plasticiser that migrates into rigid compound and destroys its dimensional stability. A single hose coiled into a load of pipe scrap can contaminate a whole batch, so hand sorting at intake is not optional.
The second is metal. Threaded brass inserts, steel reinforcement in some composite pipes, and galvanised brackets all have to be removed. A metal detector on the outlet catches what the eye misses.
The third is the joint. Solvent-cemented joints and rubber ring seals are different materials, and both have to be cut out. We trim joint ends before grinding; it is slower than grinding everything, but it is the difference between a compound that extrudes cleanly and one that leaves gels and black specks in the finished pipe.
How we collect PVC pipe scrap
For contractors and demolition firms we offer site clearance: we assess the material on site, agree a rate on the assessed grade, and handle the loading. Large diameter sewer pipe is cut on site to lengths that fit a truck. For fabricators we arrange scheduled collection, which suits the steady offcut volumes they generate.
Traders can deliver to our yard by weight. Every load is inspected and graded against the agreed description, and the grading is recorded so a repeat supplier knows exactly what to deliver to reach the top rate.
How we recycle PVC pipe scrap
PVC is not remelted and pelletised the way polyethylene is. Rigid PVC pipe scrap is shredded, washed, dried and ground to a controlled particle size, then either sold as regrind for a customer to formulate themselves or compounded in our own operation with stabiliser, lubricant and filler to a specification. Our two PVC pipe extrusion lines in Karachi consume recycled compound directly, which gives us a guaranteed internal outlet and lets us run a steady purchase programme for scrap.
The advantage of being both recycler and pipe producer is quality control. If a batch of regrind is not good enough, we find out on our own extrusion line before it reaches a customer, not after. That is why our compound leaves the yard with a batch report rather than a verbal assurance.
What is made from recycled PVC pipe scrap
Recycled rigid PVC performs well in any product that does not need a pressure rating or a potable-water certificate.
- Non-pressure drainage pipe and soil waste systems
- Conduit for electrical and telecom cabling
- Cable protection tiles and covers
- Garden and agricultural fittings
- PVC profiles for partitions, trunking and skirting
- Drainage chambers, inspection covers and gully gratings
- Compound feedstock for pipe producers running non-pressure lines
What moves the price of PVC pipe scrap
PVC pipe scrap is one of the few plastic streams where transport is not the dominant cost, simply because rigid PVC is roughly forty percent denser than polyethylene. A truck carries far more polymer per trip, so collection radius is wider and even distant lots can make sense. What sets the price instead is the compound market: what pipe producers will pay for regrind, and how much filler and stabiliser they have to add to bring it back to spec.
Colour and service history do most of the rest. Clean white or grey offcuts from a fabricator command the best rate because they can go back into visible products. Demolition pipe with solvent-cement joints, rubber rings and soil attached is graded lower, and the gap is not arbitrary — every joint has to be trimmed by hand before the material can be ground, and that labour has to be paid for somewhere.
Specifying PVC pipe scrap: what to send us
- Pipe type and colour — drainage, sewer, conduit, pressure offcut or casing
- Diameter range and wall thickness, since large sewer sections need cutting before they will load
- Whether joints, rubber rings, metal inserts or brackets are still fitted
- Whether the material is post-consumer (dug up, soiled) or fabrication offcut (clean)
- Approximate tonnage and how often you generate it
- Whether any flexible PVC, cable or hose has been mixed in — this must be declared before we quote
Buying PVC pipe scrap from Al Qaryan Industries
Al Qaryan Industries buys PVC pipe scrap across Pakistan and supplies recycled rigid PVC regrind and compound from our Karachi facility. Because we extrude PVC pipe ourselves, we are a consistent buyer rather than a trader who disappears when the market softens.
Selling to us: send photographs showing the pipe type, colour and approximate wall thickness, plus the tonnage and location. For large diameter or site-clearance lots we will inspect in person. WhatsApp +92 333 201 0506 is the fastest route to an assessment.
Buying from us: tell us the product, the colour you need, whether you can take regrind or require finished compound, and your monthly tonnage. We will confirm the specification we can hold and supply a trial load so you can run it before committing.
Questions buyers and suppliers ask
Is PVC pipe scrap better than HDPE scrap?
It is different. PVC is denser, so transport is cheaper per ton, and it re-compounds well for rigid products. HDPE is tougher and more forgiving in processing. Most processors use both, for different products.
Do you accept pipe with solvent-cement joints?
Yes, but joint ends are trimmed and separated because the cement and the fitting material are not the same as the pipe. Loads with many joints are graded lower.
Can recycled PVC be used for drinking water pipe?
Not without a documented stabiliser system that meets the relevant standard. For anything touching potable water, tell us at enquiry stage so we can confirm whether the material qualifies rather than assume it.
What happens to the rubber seals?
They are removed during sorting and sent for separate processing. Rubber in a PVC grind shows up as soft black specks and cannot be filtered out later.
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