INNOVATION | WEEE AND ELV
Right: Spraying plastic tubes at Volution, a UK ventilation
company which uses recycled plastics in its manufacturing
of the study will be published by September. Responding to this regulatory impetus, the
cross-industry initiative RecyClass, which has devised design-for-recycling guidelines for plastics packaging, said it will extend its scope to encom- pass plastic components used in electrical, elec- tronic, and automotive applications. “Anticipating upcoming European regulations on the recyclabil- ity of plastics in electrical and electronic products and vehicles, RecyClass demonstrates proactive leadership by staying ahead of these changes,” said the group. Its focus will be on polymers including PS, ABS, PP, and PE plus others. Across Europe, recyclers and industry groups
are increasing their efforts to improve WEEE recycling. Data published by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs shows that the UK collected 473,019 tonnes of WEEE in 2023, eclipsing the target of 471, 942 tonnes for the first time in seven years. In January, Enva acquired fellow Scottish company WEEE Solutions, which deals with materials such as large and small domestic appliances, flat panel displays, IT equip- ment, batteries and fluorescent tubes, to further expand its recycling capacity. This was the com- pany’s fourth acquisition since Enva Group was itself bought by private equity firm I Squared Capital last year. The acquisitions include WEEE recyclers Environcom and Shore Recycling.
Plastics challenge Volution claims to be one of the first ventilation companies in the UK to use recycled plastic in manufacturing, but achieving this was far from straightforward. “Initially we faced a challenge since test houses would not certify products made from recycled material due to variations in recycled plastic content and the absence of materials data,”
said CEO Ronnie George. “To address this we began batch testing recycled plastics to interna- tional standards in our own labs. We also created a materials database to share with test houses enabling product certification and third-party accreditation. The data now validates fans manufac- tured from recycled plastic. Volution is the only ventilation company to set such high targets around the use of recycled plastics, especially within electrical devices. Others have recycled material in ducting and grilles but no other has it in the actual fans. Insights from recycled plastic research have enhanced our understanding of materials, but more work needs to be done and we need the whole sector to buy into it. The industry needs to better understand the materials used in industrial processes and there needs to be more competition in the recycled polymers market.” In Switzerland, Stadler, the German company specialising in the planning, production and assembly of turnkey recycling and sorting plants, and its subsidiary WeeeSwiss Technology, installed what is said to be the largest processing
BSH chooses chemically recycled ABS
Chemically recycled polymers are a new option for electronics manufac- turers to consider for their products. BSH Home Appliances selected a chemically-recycled ABS resin by Elix Polymers for the stand, arm and other components of the latest Stand Mixer by Bosch. Elix said the specialised, tailor-made ABS P3H-AT CR25 provides excellent impact resistance and a high level of stability, while also possessing high chemical resistance and offering a high gloss finish to
50 PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | July/August 2024
improve the product’s aesthetic appeal.
ABS P3H-AT CR25 has a 25% content of certified raw materials (certified according to ISCC+ using the mass balance approach). The carbon footprint of this material can therefore be reduced by 21% compared to the traditional raw material, according to Elix. The company’s E-Loop range includes materials with chemically recycled content and also materials with mechanically recycled content.
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
IMAGE: BSH/ELIX
IMAGE: VOLUTION
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