DCW Polymers.
We all want to do our bit to protect the planet and make a positive impact on climate change to benefit future generations, but what steps can be taken by local parish councils to start making a difference? Introducing DCW, a Devon-based business that is leading the way in creating a more circular economy across the South West.
DCW is an Exeter-based business that provides commercial waste collection and recycling services across the beautiful county of Devon and beyond. This thriving family-owned business has been trading for 33 years, and has grown to become the region’s most successful independent waste management and recycling firm. In fact, it was the first to offer a Zero-to-Landfill solution in the South West.
Today the business operates out of four sites covering Devon, Cornwall and much of Somerset too, with improving recycling rates across the region at the heart of all that they do. DCW aims to recover as much recyclable material as possible from its commercial customers’ waste, with any residual wastes being converted to energy via waste-to-energy incineration plants.
DCW Polymers is the division of the business responsible for recycling plastic waste. Based in Exeter, the recycling experts collect and reprocess hundreds of tonnes of waste plastics, turning it into flakes and granules which go back into the manufacturing process and reduce the need for virgin plastic products to be made, ensuring that this valuable material is not lost to landfill or incineration. In 2021, DCW Polymers invested in new processing equipment which they hoped would enable them to convert some of these recovered plastic granules into new products. After a lot of trial, error and extensive testing, the process was refined and a new range of outdoor furniture products was developed. Over the last 18 months, the business has continued to develop the process and has invested in even more equipment to scale up the manufacturing process.
DCW now offers a range of outdoor products that includes tables, chairs, benches, picnic benches, decking, dog agility equipment, playground equipment, fencing components, decking and much more. DCW’s ethos is to minimise the carbon footprint of the plastic waste journey. The waste plastics are collected from businesses across Devon, taken to DCW Polymers to be processed, and extruded into planks, rails and posts. From these recycled profiles, DCW’s team of skilled staff hand-build all products, which are then ready to be sold to customers across Devon and beyond.
A sustainable alternative to timber, the furniture range is maintenance-free and long-lasting. With a 25 year guarantee, the stylish furniture is weatherproof, will not rot, splinter or corrode or ever require painting or treating.
2022 was an exceptionally busy and exciting year for DCW Polymers. Further products were designed and added to the range, the team built hundreds of tables, chairs and benches and supplied miles of fencing and decking. Their efforts to make a difference to the circular economy in the South West didn’t go unnoticed as DCW was nominated for two prestigious awards, winning the Manufacturer of the Year award at Insider’s Made in the South West Awards. DCW also achieved the Trading Standards approved Made in Devon accreditation.
Several Devon parish councils and local authorities have already invested in our benches, and we hope that we can continue to work closely with communities across Devon. We are also open to new opportunities to work with communities in setting up local collections of certain plastics that we can recycle into new products.
DCW has a showroom at its Exeter site, the Enviro Hub, Marsh Barton Road, EX2 8NU, where visitors can view the recycled furniture products and find out more about the manufacturing process.
For more details on DCW’s recycled furniture range, please visit www.dcw.co.uk/recycled-products/
To contact DCW for more information, call 01392 361300 or email sales@dcw.co.uk.
