Car Recycling

Vehicle Recycling – Did you know that vehicles can be recycled? Here is an old video clip hosted by Joel Greene as he witnesses a car crusher’s massive power! We begin at a facility that obtains old cars.

The first step is to pick them up with an enormous claw and deposit them onto a conveyor belt where they get stuffed into a giant blender that reduces a vehicle down to chunks of scrap. These fragment pieces are then separated out into various piles of metals, plastics, glass, etc.

Next, Greene follows the metal to a steel mill next door, as he watches the most visual process of smelting metal and turning it into liquid lava.

In this youtube video, you can see what all the scrap metal from old vehicles can become.

 

from
https://www.planetgreenrecycling.net.au/car-recycling/

Computer E-Waste Collection & Recycling

There is a vast difference between disposal and Recycling of Computers, TV’s, or any technology which has reached its used by date.

What happens to the plastic put out for recycling?

Step 1 – Separation

Plastic containers are removed from the recycling stream and sorted into polymer types at the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF).

Step 2 – Baling and contaminant removal

Bales of different types of plastic are transported to factories for reprocessing where large contaminants are removed.

Step 3 – Processing

The plastics are either shredded, chopped or ground and then washed to remove further contaminants. The plastic is melted and pushed through an extruder, a bit like an old fashioned mincer or a spaghetti maker. It is then cooled and pressed through a die and chopped or pelletised into granules. It is then ready to be made into new products.

Facts

• Plastic was invented by Alexander Parkes in 1860.
• In 1997, 5.5% (by weight) of household garbage in Victoria was made up of plastics. (BIEC 1998).
• The Australian Plastics Industry began in Australia during WW1 when the first buttons were made.
• Over 1.5 million tonnes of plastic were consumed in Australia in 2006 but only 244,011 tonnes of plastic was reprocessed (PACIA 2006).
• Recycling PET bottles saves 84% of the energy it takes to make PET bottles from raw materials.
• PET soft drink bottles are either used in Australia to make bottles with 25% recycled content, or exported to be used in carpet, ecofleece and other synthetic fibre products.
• HDPE (milk and detergent) bottles are recycled into items such as plastic wheelie bins or outdoor furniture.
• Recycled plastic can also be used to make guide posts, building panels, railway sleepers, and chemical spill trays.
• Each council accepts different plastics for kerbside recycling, so check the bottom of your containers and make sure that the tattoo matches the council brochure information.
• Remove all lids and caps and throw them into the garbage – they are made from a different plastic to the container and can’t be recycled.
• If your recycling is separated into containers and paper/cardboard, make sure the plastic containers go in with the other containers.
• Empty and rinse the containers to remove any residue.
• Do not put plastic containers inside one another or inside other containers such as metal cans – they won’t be sorted properly at the Materials Recycling Facility.
• Plastic bags, plastic household items such as toys, baskets and food packages, personal hygiene products and confectionery wrappers cannot be recycled through the kerbside bin.

Reuse

Some plastic containers can be used several times, for example:

• Plastic bags as bin liners;
• Ice cream containers for storing and freezing food; and
• Soft drink bottles for storing water in the car. Once you have reused plastic bottles a few times, place them in your recycle bin. Plastics break down over time and exposure to sun, so drinking bottles should only be reused a few times before disposing of them reponsibly.

Reduce

Avoid using plastic products that cannot be recycled or reused such as plastic bags, packaging and single-use disposable products.

NSW Plastics Recycling

In 2006 around 49,596 tonnes of plastic was recycled in NSW.

In 2005 in Australia, more than 1.3 million tonnes of plastics were produced, with almost 244,011 tonnes being recycled. This represents a 18.7% recycle rate (up from 12.5% in 2004).

Victoria recycles more than 45.7% of its plastic, with NSW recycling more than 28%.

from
https://www.planetgreenrecycling.net.au/computer-e-waste-collection-recycling/

Call for Comment on National Waste Policy

Environment Minister Peter Garrett has today invited comment on the draft National Waste Policy Framework – Less Waste More Resources.

“We are drawing closer to achieving a new, clearer direction for waste management – moving towards avoiding waste and actively using it as a resource,” Mr Garrett said.

“Under the leadership of the Australian Government the state and territory environment ministers will consider the new policy at their next meeting in November.

“Community response to the discussion paper that paved the way for the development of this draft national policy framework has been very encouraging.

“Through a comprehensive submission and consultation process, we now have a strong picture of the key priorities that it needs to address.”

Seven themes emerged from the consultations:

1. Taking responsibility
2. Improving the market
3. Pursuing sustainability
4. Facilitating investment
5. Reducing hazard
6. Reporting on performance
7. Tailoring solutions

“Receiving public comment on the draft framework is the next key step, and I encourage individuals, community groups, businesses, industry and governments to continue this dialogue on waste and resource recovery issues.”

Comments close on Friday 31 July 2019.

Find out more or subscribe to the national waste policy e-news to stay up to date by visiting www.environment.gov.au/wastepolicy.

from
https://www.planetgreenrecycling.net.au/call-for-comment-on-national-waste-policy/

Unique systems for recycling of CRTs

Proventia is the world leader in ‘State-of-the-Art’ 2-man highly efficient large throughput capacity CRT recycling laser machines. Estimated operational plant cost (August 2009) $400,000 AUD.

Proventia Automation supplies CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) recycling lines with high separation capacity, up to 900 000 pcs/year, to meet the demands of the CRT-manufacturers. Australia’s commercial sector has a dire need over the next 4-5 years to provide the Australian Public with the most sustainable processesing of Analog TV’s and redundant Computers and printers.

The recycling equipment uses a carbon dioxide laser to cut the CRT to separate the lead containing back glass from the leadless panel glass. It is one of the first of its kind in the world.

“Additionally, high quality separation and recyclability (recycle rate?) as well as excellent health and environmental performance are achieved. Furthermore, the solution can be customized and localized to meet the business environment of the customer,” says Mr.. Lars Aikala, Executive Director of Proventia Automation Oy.

During 2004, the company signed three delivery agreements, which were fulfilled at the end of 2004. The customers are Shore Recycling in Perth, Scotland, Citiraya UK Ltd in Wales and ZME Elektronik Recycling in Heuchelheim, Germany.

For instance, Citiraya UK Ltd is the world’s leading electronics recycling company with operations on five continents.

“We chose Proventia’s technology due to the benefits of laser cutting in CRT recycling. Using also Proventia’s glass cleaning technology, we can provide high quality separated CRT glass back to the CRT manufacturers,” says Mr. Ray Chaney, Vice President of European Operations of Citiraya.

“This way we help our customers to comply with the European electronics recycling directive in an efficient and environmentally friendly way,” Chaney continued.

from
https://www.planetgreenrecycling.net.au/unique-systems-for-recycling-of-crts/

Local Councils Win on E-Waste Ban

The Councils of Mosman, Manly, Pittwater and Warringah (SHOROC) today succeeded in passing a resolution to introduce a national ban on e-waste from disposal in landfill at this week’s 2009 National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra.

At the conference, SHOROC called for a nationwide ban on e-waste at landfill sites and for governments to introduce legislation for extended producer responsibility (EPR) to require manufacturers to take responsibility for the disposal of e-waste. Delegates endorsed the motion and individual councils across Australia will now have the choice to implement a ban e-waste disposal in landfill sites.

SHOROC has already decided to introduce bans on the kerbside collection and disposal to landfill of e-waste from 1 January 2010. E-waste includes televisions, computers, printers, scanners, modems, DVD players, CD players, VCRs and gaming machines. The ban will apply to all 250,000 residents of Mosman, Manly, Warringah and Pittwater and will be the first regional ban in NSW.

SHOROC President Mayor Michael Regan said that councillors at the conference had endorsed a nationwide ban as they recognised the growing environmental concerns over the disposal of electronic waste in landfill.

“Research shows that hazardous substances, such as lead, cadmium and mercury from discarded equipment, are leaching into landfill sites and costing up to $1500 per tonne to dispose of safely,” he said.

“In 2008 Australia had an estimated 168 million electronic waste items – including 37 million computers and 17 million televisions – either in landfill or heading to landfill. E-waste in Australia is currently growing at over three times the rate of general municipal waste.

“Approximately 69% of Australia’s obsolete computer equipment is held in storage, awaiting disposal. Around only 1.5% of computers are currently recycled so there is a huge risk that most obsolete equipment will ultimately end up in landfill,” Mayor Regan said.

“We believe manufacturers and distributors should take responsibility for the recycling and the safe disposal of e-waste and call on governments at all levels to implement legislation to enforce this. There’s a clear case of cost shifting taking place here as manufacturers pass on to local government the financial and environmental costs of e-waste disposal. That’s simply unacceptable to us and our ratepayers.

“SHOROC is heartened by the passing of the resolution and now calls upon councils across Australia to introduce their own bans on e-waste disposal in landfill.”

from
https://www.planetgreenrecycling.net.au/local-councils-win-on-e-waste-ban/

New state of the art cathode ray tube recycling plant opens in South Australia

Another 20 jobs will be created over the next six months at Australia’s first TV and computer monitor glass recycling plant at Gepps Cross in Adelaide.

Australia’s first TV recycling plant officially launched

South Australia has taken another important step in cracking down on waste with the launch of Australia’s first and only television and computer monitor glass recycling plant.

Environment and Conservation Minister Jay Weatherill today officially launched CRT Recycling Gepps Cross Plant, which is expected to recycle glass from more than 300,000 TV and computer screens each year.

“Computer and electronic waste is building up in landfill with up to 1.5 million computers and 1.5 million TVs nationally going there each year.”

“Historically, what to do with the Cathode Ray Tubes from TVs and computer monitors has been a problem.

“CRT Recycling is taking hazardous material and transforming it into glass that will be used all around the world, largely for making new TV screens and monitors.

“The company this year was awarded a State Government grant of more than $290,000 to install a glass cutting and cleaning system.”

CRT Recycling uses specially designed processes and machinery to clean, separate and remove contamination from Cathode Ray Tube glass from TVs and computer monitors for recycling.

Mr. Weatherill said the launch of Australia’s first TV and computer monitor glass recycling plant was another example of South Australians taking the lead in environmental issues.

As last year’s State of the Environment Report made clear, South Australia is the leading recycling state on a per capita basis.

“Most recently, we’ve banned checkout-style plastic bags to remove 400 million of them from litter and landfill each year, which will further entrench our leading position.”

“South Australia has the nation’s only container deposit scheme, which has made the State an attractive place for the recycling industry.”

“This is why we are well-positioned to increase reuse and crack down on materials going to landfill.”

“We recently completed consultation on our draft Waste to Resources policy, which includes plans to ban products such as light globes, TVs, computers and whitegoods from landfill.”

“The Environment Protection Authority currently is collating feedback from that consultation.”

CRT Recycling Managing Director Michelle Morton said it was time people stopped viewing this type of material as waste.

“These items shouldn’t be seen as waste, but as a valued resource that is in demand around the world for a number of applications.”

Ms Morton said while most of the recycled material went toward new TVs and computers overseas, Canberra artist Luna Ryan was using the glass to make sculptures, which she had on display at today’s launch.

from
https://www.planetgreenrecycling.net.au/new-state-of-the-art-cathode-ray-tube-recycling-plant-opens-in-south-australia/

Planet Green Overview

Planet Green Overview Do we actually know that recycling is good for the environment? Do we have scientific evidence that supports our well-meaning actions saving energy to preserve natural resources and curb greenhouse gases? Are we just guessing that ‘reducing landfill waste’ equates to ‘saving the planet’? And is it worth an additional cost to the consumer for recycling infrastructure to...

Source

from
https://www.planetgreenrecycling.net.au/overview/