Technology of Recycling

By Susy Kindred

Source: http://www.main.org/nuna/welcome_to.html

Energy Balance

• Energy required to make products from recycled materials

vs.

• Energy required to make products from virgin material

• Factors – sources, collection of recyclables, virgin materials, process equipment

Why this doesn’t work

• Recyclables change hands many times

• Recycling is done by private companies

• Everyone does it differently

What I did instead

• Estimate of energy required to collect recyclables nationwide

dayperson

Btu

peopletrucks

dieselgal

Btu

miles

gal

day

miles

117.14

000,30329

1

500,147

4

110

day

BtuUSinpeople

dayperson

Btu 111016.1272,246,300

117.14

Source: ttp://www.concordnet.org/cpw/recycle/html/drivers.html

Paper

• Collected• De-inked

- Slush- Detergent

• Addition of new materials• Bleached• Dried• Ironed• Rolled

Source: http://www.carneyswaste.com/images/recycle_paper_web.jpg

Plastic

• Collected• Separated• Grind• Clean• Remold

http://www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/files/685_recycling%20plastic.jpg

Number Code Polymer

1 PET Polyethylene Terepththalate

2 HDPE High Density Polyethylene

3 PVC Polyvinyl Chloride

4 LDPE Low Density Polyethylene

5 PP Polypropylene

6 PS Polystyrene

7 Other

Glass

• Collected

• Separated by color

• Crushed

• Cleaned

• Used as cullet

• Or remolded

Source: http://www.lotfi.net/recycle/Img0018.JPG

Metals

• Collected• Separated into aluminum and steel

Aluminum Steel Steel sells Shredded Flattened at $0.10/lb

Cleaned De-tinned Tin sells

Melted Drained at $4.413/lb

Ingots or sheets RinsedBaled

Recycle Anyway?

• Paper is the number one trash in landfills

• Plastic is made from petroleum

• Glass is easy to recycle but even easier to reuse

• Metals are valuable ores– Environment?

Source: http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=9442

Improvements

• REDUCE

• REUSE

• THEN RECYCLE