TRP Chapter Chapter 4.3 Recycling and waste exchange

TRP Chapter Recycling What is recycling? The re-use and remanufacture of waste materials What is the purpose of recycling? To recover useful materials and save resources To prevent pollutants reaching the waste stream What are the benefits of recycling? More efficient resource use, lower energy consumption, reduced pollution

TRP Chapter On-site recycling Benefits: close to the point of generation less contamination lower cost raw materials reduced waste disposal costs Costs: capital investment in equipment staff training maintenance and repair staff time residue disposal quality control

TRP Chapter Off-site recycling Factors influencing off-site recycling: if on-site recycling is not appropriate if on-site recycling is not cost-effective availability and location of recycling facilities availability of advanced technology economies of scale Need: storage for materials awaiting collection transport to off-site facility Materials commonly recycled off-site include: oils, solvents, electroplating sludges, lead-acid batteries

TRP Chapter Secondary raw materials Use of secondary raw materials is common in some sectors eg metals, paper, oil Economics of process may depend on recycling of by-products Large international trade in many such wastes Technology for processing requires large investment, high volumes May generate new problematic residue stream May provide opportunities for illegal practices

TRP Chapter Recycling technologies Recycling Technology Waste Type Activated-carbon Absorption Distillation Steam Distillation Electrolytic Recovery Ion Exchange Hydrometallurgical Concentration Membrane Separation Evaporation Freeze-Crystallisation                  1 - Corrosive wastes 2 - Cyanide containing wastes 3 - Halogenated solvents 4 - Non-halogenated solvents 5 - Other organic wastes 6 - Oil-containing wastes 7 - Metal containing wastes 8 - Organic containing wastes 9 - Reactive wastes Pyrometallurgy 

TRP Chapter Solvent recovery 1 Simple solvent recovery plant, SE Asia 1990 Source: David C Wilson

TRP Chapter Solvent recovery 2 Source: David C Wilson 1990

TRP Chapter Case study: Battery recycling leaching residue washing electrowinning melting and casting purification Bi, Cu, As, Sb % Pb ingots Inert residues paste PLACID Process

TRP Chapter Case study: Advantages of process No liquid effluent discharges Leaching residue is inert gypsum Dusts and drosses are recycled Leaded slags and soils can be treated

TRP Chapter Waste exchange Puts generators in contact with potential users Example of off-site recycling Some free, some charge fees List wastes available and wanted Some local, some regional, a few national Number increasing thanks to Internet Printed catalogue or computerised on- line systems

TRP Chapter Waste exchange Types of waste exchange Information clearinghouse or material broker Waste generator User Information on wastes available Information on wastes wanted Information on wastes available

TRP Chapter Which wastes? Wastes arising in small quantities Wastes needing specialised recycling High value materials not usable by generator Low value materials Off-specification products Contaminated material Surplus and outdated materials

TRP Chapter Waste listings Often divided into Requests and Offers eg Requests Ethanol, sodium hydroxide Electronic scrap Fertilisers Metal containing wastes Organic materials Sludges Offers Copper sulphate Fluorspar Hydrochloric acid Magnesium hydroxide Filter cakes Sodium sulphate May give detailed description eg Phenol formaldehyde resin from vat coating of fibreglass. Solution contains 54% phenolic resin in 23% ethanol with 1% formaldehyde by net weight. 5 drums available.

TRP Chapter Measuring success volumes recycled raw materials saved costs reduced awareness raised Example: US Dept of Defense Defense Reutilisation Marketing Organisation

TRP Chapter Influences on expansion of waste exchanges · Internet Integration of exchanges · Government support and funding · Research into opportunities for particular wastes Limited liability for users

TRP Chapter Chapter 4.3 Summary Recycling of hazardous waste has a number of benefits It may take place on-site or off-site, depending on the waste and the technology It generates residues Many processes use secondary raw materials as feedstock Waste exchange helps promote re-use and recycling, maximise diversion from disposal