LAWR

WASTE HANDLING Is the metal recycling industry missing a trick? The worth of metals may be on everyone's radar, but is there even more value to be gleaned? Are waste handlers realising the true potential of metal? Chris Oldfield reports. here can be n o d i s p u t i n g t h e s i g n i f i c a n t commodity value of metals. This value is one of the reasons the Scrap Metal Dealers Act came into force in 2013 – to try to crack down on criminals' exploitative trade of this expensive recyclate. Yet despite the widespread acknowledgement of the monetary worth of metals, some companies [waste contractors/recyclers] are still failing to maximise their return from this area of waste handling. The reasons for this are numerous. In certain instances it is due to a lack of knowledge. Technological innovations are continuing apace and it can be difficult for facilities operators to understand what actually is and is not possible, in terms of metal separation, recovery and recycling. Elsewhere, other organisations understand the capabilities of modern technology, but fear the apparent investment associated with this state- of-the-art plant and equipment. In truth however, more sophisticated kit can in fact handle a greater amount of material, achieve a more advanced metal separation process, and increase the organisation's yield accordingly. The key is therefore to raise awareness of the opportunities that exist within the UK metals industry. Already contributing a reported £5.6bn to the economy, metals recycling has been hailed a British success story. But there is even more potential to be realised. One of the biggest obstacles in metals recycling is contamination. Take used beverage cans (UBCs) for instance. Whilst all recycled cans are valuable, it is the non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, which carry the greater worth. Aluminium and steel cans therefore need to be separated, and any contaminants – including widgets or other waste substances – removed. Recognising the limitations of material recycling facilities' sorting systems, which cannot achieve 100% separation, the more forward-thinking waste firms shred loosely baled UBCs to liberate the materials. Overband magnets are then used to extract ferrous metals and an eddy-current separator removes any other 'contaminants', leaving just the aluminium. If a pure aluminium is sought, the lacquer would then need to be stripped. This separation process can be used for the recovery of metals from other areas of industry too. In the automotive world for example, cylinder heads are often made from aluminium but fitted with steel inserts. Shredding and sorting equipment therefore enables the ferrous and non-ferrous metals to be separated, prior to being sold for recycling. Increasing smelting efficiency Non-contaminated metals obviously command a greater price per tonne, something any metal recycler strives for. Yet a more sophisticated approach to metal sorting can achieve benefits for smelters too. Firstly, metals that have been shredded down to a smaller size can be fed into a furnace via a screw pump. This enables a continuous supply of material, which can reduce heat loss during the furnace filling process. Secondly, it is said that for every tonne of contamination, twice the amount of aluminium could be lost in the smelting process. If the metals are non-contaminated the smelting efficiency is therefore further improved. Examples of valuable metals being 'trapped' within other products and materials do not stop with drinks cans and car parts. Steel can be separated from uPVC windows and tyres for instance, and precious copper can be extracted from cables. The value of this latter metal – once it has been separated from PVC sheathing and steel wire – is undoubtedly one of the reasons that cables are increasingly being shredded in the UK rather than being shipped overseas. E-waste opportunities Whilst often considered a separate waste stream – due to the complexities that surround its specialist treatment – it should not be forgotten that WEEE contains many valuable metals too. In December 2013, the UN-backed 'Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP) Initiative' claimed that, globally, the annual level of end-of-life electronics will increase by a third by 2017. It is therefore important that the UK's WEEE recycling capabilities continue to evolve in order to deal with this 10 Local Authority Waste & Recycling February 2014 T February 2014 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 11 WASTE HANDLING escalating production of waste. More specialists are needed within this complex field. The negative environmental and health impacts of primitive WEEE recycling methods are constantly reported on in the media, but there needs to be greater awareness of the more sophisticated technological options that exist for this type of waste handling. When managed by an Approved Authorised Treatment Facility (AATF), 'waste' electronic products are kept separate from other waste streams and – if not suitable for re-use – are carefully pre-treated to ensure the removal of any hazardous substances. Efforts then need to be made to recover incredibly valuable commodities within the WEEE such as gold, copper and palladium, to name just a few. Of course shredders and sorting equipment can help here, but the most sophisticated of operators will thoroughly hand-separate as much of the metal as possible. This minimises the level of valuable and potentially harmful metals being lost in the dust that inevitably arises from WEEE processing, however slow the shredder speed. Keeping it simple There is nothing wrong with wanting to ensure waste handling operations remain as straightforward as possible. Some companies' goals are simply to ensure the business runs smoothly, whilst supporting the UK's recycling targets, and nothing more. But even these seemingly uncomplicated objectives can be tricky enough in some instances and once again carefully selected technologies have an important role to play. In the manufacturing and machining industries for example, fine shavings of metal swarf can become almost impossible to handle when they tangle together and form a large mass. Here the priority for a waste handling plant is size reduction, so that the metal can be shredded down to produce a more manageable chip. To take this one step further and improve the company's bottom line, the shredded fraction can then be sent to a specialist wash plant. Once the cutting lubricant has been cleaned off, the result is a non- contaminated metal which can then be smelted down or baled for re-sale. Of course if the metal is a valuable non-ferrous substance such as brass or titanium, the material will attract an even greater price. This all goes to show that the metal landscape is one of great opportunity in the UK. Pleasingly, the individual illustrations of companies developing innovative metal recycling processes are already becoming more prevalent. However, it is important to raise further awareness so that organisations within the industry understand exactly what is possible. It is simply a case of establishing a budget and investing in the right technologies, configured to suit the project specification, in order to achieve the desired end result. Mobile Washing Systems "A tailored package to meet your specific needs" Including: • MOBILE DEWATERING SCREENS & CYCLONES • MOBILE WATER RECYCLING PLANT • MOBILE CENTRIFUGES FOR SLUDGE REMOVAL Total water recirculation = Lower water use Does not require settlement lagoons CRUSHERS AND DRY SCREENERS ALSO AVAILABLE SEE THE VIDEO OF THE PLANT WORKING ON OUR WEBSITE SELF DRIVE SELF DRIVE & OPERA & OPERA TED PLANT HIRE A TED PLANT HIRE A V V AILABLE AILABLE � (01527) 89 3343 www.sedavis.co.uk Built On Ambition BOA Recycling UK Ltd. Rorrington 12, SY156BX Chirbury Shropshire, United Kingdom Tel: +44-(0)1938561790 Fax: +44-(0)1938561791 www.boarecycling.co.uk We Impress. Others try to convince from 60 to 225 tons press force The choice for a baler is not ours We realise that the choice for a baler depends on the material to be pressed. The Impress® baler therefore comprises cutting, prepress flap and double prepress flap balers. BOA offers different baling solutions for different types of material. www.boarecycling.co.uk BOA Impress® Different bale methods, specific strengths The greatest pressing force in its class Low operational costs Safe, rigid and reliable Chris Oldfield is managing director of waste shredding specialist UNTHA UK.

• Cover