Waste Management & Handling EU: Stop Illegal Exports of e-Scrap
The European Union is concerned about the ongoing illegal exports of e-waste to non-OECD countries, especially to developing countries where the material is not treated in an environmental way. This was one of the key issues discussed at the 10th International Electronics Recycling Congress (IERC 2011) held last month in Salzburg, Austria. The EU is currently investigating how to resolve this issue.
According to Rosalinde van der Vlies of the European Environment Directorate General, around 52% of the e-scrap arisings in the EU is not accounted for and is probably exported. ‘Cost and opportunity combined are the drivers off illegal exports,’ she said. One of the solutions could be to ‘export’ (global) standards and recycling technologies. Other approaches to tackle the e-scrap export problem could include the improvement of collection and reporting mechanisms and improved monitoring of compliance with legal obligations.
Eric Harris, Director Governmental and International Affairs of the US recycling association ISRI, said his organisation does not in principle object to e-scrap exports to, for instance African countries. ‘These exports generate jobs and income for the people in Africa’, he said. Mr Harris agreed with Mrs Van der Vlies that efforts should be made to bring recycling of e-scrap in developing countries to a higher and environmentally sound level. While condemning illegal or shame recycling practices, Mr Harris reinforced the need to not criminalise legal trade and to ensure a competitive, global marketplace. ISRI policy supports trading with facilities that are legal and can demonstrate environmental and health and safety standards anywhere in the world.
However, enacting legislation is one thing, enforcing them is another, stated Klaus Willke of the urban development and environment agency of the city of Hamburg said that it would be unjust to point to the port authorities in Europe as being responsible for the illegal exports of e-scrap. ‘We have a very small staff to carry out random checks of containers,’ he said. He ventured that there was a large ‘grey’ market for e- waste beside the official EU WEEE management system.
The 10th International Electronics Recycling Congress IERC 2011, organised by Swiss
company ICM AG took place in Salzburg, Austria from January 19 – 21, 2011 and attracted a record attendance of more than 450 delegates from 39 countries. In addition, the event drew 47 exhibitors to the parallel trade show - including equipment manufacturers and service providers. Over the years, IERC has become the international platform for discussion of the latest developments and challenges relating to worldwide waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
The 11th International Electronics Recycling Congress IERC 2012 will take place from January 18 – 20, 2012 in Salzburg, Austria.
Reader Reply Card No 72
The Use of Sewage Sludge in China’s Cement Industry
£100 Million Renewable Chemical Scheme
A renewable chemical sector entrepreneur has unveiled ambitious plans to develop the UK’s first manufacturing facility producing industrial chemicals from domestic and commercial waste.
Solvert Limited will use advanced biological fermentation processes to produce renewable n- butanol, acetone, hydrogen and electricity from wet biodegradable
waste. Not only environmentally-friendly, the process utilises a feedstock which other new industries such as waste-to-energy plants cannot use effectively.
“The current drive within the UK is to divert waste away from landfill sites into more productive uses – such as feedstocks for other processes,” said Solvert’s CEO Kris Wadrop.
“Organic waste, such as spoilage from supermarkets or the leftover food from our kitchens at home and in restaurants, holds immense potential for conversion into valuable chemicals to replace those produced from crude oil.
“At the moment, hydrogen, acetone and n-butanol come from non-renewable petrochemical sources and there are no UK producers. N-butanol and acetone are currently imported into the UK from Western Europe and the USA.
“A significant market for these chemicals already exists in the North East of England as well as other parts of the UK, and more customers from further afield are also looking for a greener alternative to products derived from crude oil. These products form part of our daily lives as they are used extensively to produce paint or plastics such as Perspex.
Reader Reply Card No 73
KOS hydraulic solid pump and hydraulic power pack (Chongqing Lafarge)
Putzmeister sludge receiving and conveying system (Guangzhou Heidelberg)
In times of dwindling resources, the rising prices for oil, coal and natural gas lead the industry to use alternative fuels, especially energy-intensive industries are seeking possibilities to integrate such fuels in their processes. The innovative Putzmeister technology supports the cement industry in receiving and conveying alternative fuels.
Besides sewage sludge, other materials with high calorific value such as tar, paint sludge, slaughtering and food waste can be used. It does not matter of there are any foreign bodies in the material since the Putzmeister’s S-tube technology can convey them with up to 2/3 of the pipeline’s diameter. The delivered alternative fuels should only be conveyed in reprocessed form with the Putzmeister High-Density Solids Pumps, meaning that the material should be pumpable
When processing sewage sludge, the dewatered sludge will be pumped from the receiving silo, which is equipped with a pump and screw conveyor, through the delivery pipeline and into the cement kiln. The flow rate is proportional to the capacity of the cement kiln. Solids content of up 80% do not disturb the process.
Specific advantages:
• Large storage capacity for the alternative fuel. The cement kiln can now continuously be fed with sewage sludge, even on week-ends and bank holidays when no alternative fuels is being delivered.
• Various sludge can be admitted in the cement factory and be mixed by the pump through a so called recirculation process
• The compact equipment conveys the material in a cost-saving manner • Closed pipelines ensure a clean and odourless system
Putzmeister has a long-term experience with such system technology, which are worldwide in operation at Lafarge, Holcim, Heidelberg, Semaikesi, Mitsubishi, etc. Putzmeister plants are increasingly present since 2007 in the Chinese cement industry; a sign that alternative fuels are being used as cost-saving measure.
Reader Reply Card No 75
AkzoNobel Installs Energy Efficient Steam Pipeline
A new steam pipeline installed as part of a joint project between AkzoNobel and Dutch waste processing company Twence is expected to deliver annual energy savings for the salt production equivalent to providing gas to a city of 80,000 people.
The €15 million, two kilometer pipeline – which has taken a year to construct – will deliver steam to AkzoNobel’s salt production facility in Hengelo. It will reduce the annual consumption of natural gas by 40 million m3 decrease by 72,000 tons annually.
, while resultant carbon dioxide emissions at the location will
“This new pipeline is a shining example of AkzoNobel’s sustainability program, which will further reduce the carbon footprint of our already highly efficient low carbon combined heat and power plant,” said Werner Fuhrmann, member of AkzoNobel’s Executive Committee. “This offers the opportunity of growing the business without affecting the environmental footprint.”
Maxime Verhagen, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands and Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation and Theo Rietkerk, delegate for the Province of Overijssel, officially put the pipeline into service yesterday, with around ten percent of the required investment being covered by subsidies from the Dutch government and the Province of Overijssel.
Reader Reply Card No 74
Wastewater Treatment
Putzmeister’s high density solids pumps and silo technology: long-term reliability
Putzmeister’s industrial engineering provides world- wide hygienic conditions in wastewater treatment plants. As a systems supplier, we provide our custo- mers with complete solutions from a single source. This guarantees a technically optimal plant for pro- cessing sewage sludge and all related services also ensure a reliable operation for many years to come. Choosing Putzmeister is a choice for the future!
Putzmeister Solid Pumps GmbH Tel +49 (71 27) 599-500 ·
www.putzmeister-solid-pumps.com
Wastewater treatment plant Pro Rheno, Basel/Switzerland: Co-incineration of dewatered sewage sludge in a fluidized bed incinerator
2782 Reader Reply Card No 76
www.pollutionsolutions-online.com • February / March 2011
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