AUGUST JLC 1998
Straightening Out Those Plastics
To the Editor:
Thanks for a generally great article
on alternative decking materials.
Unfortunately, the author uses the
term "vinyl" to describe any plastic
product, which is incorrect. Vinyl is a
common term for PVC, or polyvinyl
chloride. Most of the recycled plastic
decking materials mentioned in the
article are not vinyl at all. They are primarily
high-density polyethylene
(HDPE) from milk jugs, detergent bottles,
and the like. Most of the actual
vinyl (PVC) products mentioned contain
little or no recycled content.
From an environmental perspective,
there is a huge difference between
recycled polyethylene and virgin PVC.
Nadav Malin
Environmental Building News
Brattleboro, Vt.
Foam Sheathing Too Weak
To the Editor:
In the article "Two-By Debate
Continues" (Notebook, 6/98),