Machine combines a feed hopper and hydraulic ram with a granulator.

The German company Herbold has expanded its HB Series of shredders. According to the company, the new product provides users the opportunity to produce small granule sizes using a shredder.

System is being tested out at German glass recycling facility.

The glass industry is highly challenged by the increase of impurities in the recycled glass stream due to leaded, heat resistant and ceramic glass. Heat-resistant glass, due to its high melt rate, can lead to serious damage if it passes into the processing of container glass. The particles cause stress within the container, resulting in failure of the container. Further, heat-resistant and ceramic glass can cause severe damage to the container glass production equipment and loss of production.

Leaded glass is also a challenge for the industry. Legal regulations limit the inclusion of lead in glass. These regulations are valid as an EU directive and must be implemented by the glass manufactures.

To address the problem, Redwave is introducing its QXR-G sorting system, which works with X-ray fluorescence techniques while analyzing glass on the basis of its specific chemical compositions. Certain elements, such as titan, zinc, zirconium or lead are minerals found in lead and ceramic glass, can be detected, identified and automatically ejected from the glass stream.

In comparison with other technologies the Redwave QXR-G functions efficiently with contaminated glass as it works through x-ray rather than optics to detect the chemical compounds.

This technology is capable of sorting both glass ceramic and leaded glass through one sorting machine in a single step process.

Redwave QXR-G was developed in close collaboration with the American company Innov-X-Systems, which specializes in x-ray fluorescence technologies.

To test the sort system, last year Redwave installed the Redwave QXR-G system at the German company Bernhard Reiling Glas Recycling GmbH.

Since its start, large quantities of recycled glass have been processed at the glass recycling facility, while successfully removing contaminants such as ceramic glass and leaded glass. The improved glass qualities have increased the production process at the glass factories.

For more information on Redwave’s system go to http://www.redwave.at.

Redwave QXR-G can be delivered in different sorting widths and types. Cullet with a size from 8 to 60 mm at a output of 25 to/hour can be sorted out by a very high effectiveness. The rejection of good glass along with the contamination is minimal.

Three Redwave QXR-G systems were delivered to Bernhard Reiling Glas Recycling GmbH last month, and two more will start by the first half of this year in Finland. Redwave is a trademark of BT-Wolfgang Binder GmbH. For more information on Redwave’s system go to http://www.redwave.at.

Axion Consulting Partners with Carpet Recycling UK on project.

Trials conducted by the British firm Axion Consulting show that polypropylene-based carpets can be recycled into a polymer pellet that can be used in a range of new applications.

The project, initiated by Carpet Recycling UK, is expected to help stimulate the carpet recycling industry in the United Kingdom, as well as help develop new markets for PP recyclate throughout the country. That plan was to investigate recycling options for post-consumer carpets and possible new end-use markets for PP products made from recovered material.

Carpet Recycling UK secured funding from Envirolink NW for the project.

Tests showed that while post-industrial extruded polymer had potential for a host of uses, further work is needed to verify its suitability. Post-consumer material could be recycled for medium to lower grade applications.

Axion’s demonstration trials and laboratory tests at its Salford plant concluded that while the economics of the recycling process show promise, the next steps would require large-scale trials to assess commercial viability.

“We believe this is the first in-depth study of its kind in the U.K. and are very pleased with the positive results. Carpet recycling in the UK is currently limited with only a few companies involved and recycling processing in development stages. So this successful study shows exciting potential and promise for material recovery from a difficult and largely-ignored waste stream,” says Roger Morton, Axion’s director.

Axion also found that correct identification and segregation of post-consumer carpets into an entirely PP fraction is critical to the viability of a commercial process to recycle carpets. Mixed polymer carpet material is not suitable for extrusion, so their end market is still likely to be other applications.

Currently, few recycling processes exist to handle the 500,000 metric tons of carpet waste that are landfilled a year.

The UK’s carpet industry recycling rate is less than 2 percent - an estimated 6,000-10,000 metric tons – so developing reprocessing infrastructure could significantly reduce the environmental impact of carpet disposal.

Carpet Recycling UK was formed as a not-for-profit association of companies from the carpet industry to take a lead in waste reduction by coordinating research and development and has built up a significant knowledge base. The organization is now seeking further research funding and wants to pursue commercial scale carpet recycling trials.

“By funding trials to help divert post-consumer waste carpets from landfill, Envirolink is actively supporting the government's directives to reduce landfill, while building a low carbon economy in the region. This successful outcome will have both environmental and economic benefits, as future growth in the region's recycling sector will help to create and safeguard jobs,” says Dave Taylor, a spokesman for Envirolink Northwest.

PackFlow releases updated info on steps companies can take to boost packaging recycling over next three years.

The PackFlow group, which consists of companies and groups such as Valpak, INCPEN, Alupro, Corus, British Glass, RECOUP and WRAP, has produced an up-to-date report on steps that can be taken to boost container recycling in the United Kingdom.

The work began in 2005 and has been updated on a regular basis since then. The goal of the project is to provide a clear view of packaging and packaging flows in the U.K., as well as areas that should be of concern or holds opportunities in the future.

"The PackFlow project is an impressive piece of work, with each member of the stakeholder group bringing its own knowledge and support to the project. I am sure you can see that the findings of the report are significant and provide direction to many involved in this sector in facing the problems of reducing waste and thinking of packaging as a resource to be reclaimed, recovered and recycled,” says Steve Gough, Valpak’s CEO.

"This has been a huge piece of work, involving many stakeholders, evaluating many factors which will have an impact on increasing the volumes of packaging collected for recycling between now and 2012,” says Rick Hindley, executive director for the aluminum trade group Alupro. “It provides a unique insight into the opportunities for boosting collection levels for all materials. For the aluminum sector it has reconfirmed our view that we must focus on boosting collections of aluminum cans consumed away from home and boost the capture rates of drinks cans, aerosols and foil collected at curbside."

The key findings of the report include the following:

The last four years have seen a steady growth in the quantity of packaging flowing into the UK market, despite the fact that all material streams have been lightening individual packs

Over the last four years, U.K. package recycling has increased from 50 percent to 60-62 percent. This figure is projected to reach between 68-72 percent by 2012

Recycling of household consumer packaging now makes up almost 45 percent of the total, and is increasing more rapidly than commercial and industrial packaging

The highest growth rates are forecast to be seen in away-from-home collections

Collection of household packaging is now widely available throughout the country, and the greatest opportunities for future increases lie in increasing the capture rates from existing operations, rather than relying on major new facilities

If package recycling increases as predicted, an additional 1.1 million metric tons of carbon emissions will be saved, compared to 2006.

The greatest opportunities lie in increasing aluminum and plastic packaging recycling

A copy of the executive summary can be downloaded by clicking on the following link: Executive Summary

Company says European presence will strengthen connections with its multi-national customers.

Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.’s Recycling Division , based in Creve Coeur, Mo., and Chicago, has announced the opening of a European office in Rotterdam.

The Rotterdam office is part of Smurfit-Stone Recycling International, created to represent the company’s recycling and waste solutions business outside North America. “This is an important expansion of our global activities, which focus on identifying and implementing new and improved ways to support our customers’ international businesses,” says Mike Oswald, senior vice president and general manager of the company’s recycling division.

The Rotterdam location will source recovered paper in Europe for sale in China through the company’s Shanghai office. Material will also be sold to Smurfit-Stone’s customers elsewhere in Asia as well as in Europe and Central and South America, according to a news release from the company.

“Having an ‘on-the-ground’ presence in Europe will help us to better anticipate and respond to global market conditions and support increased material recovery efforts in Europe,” says Oswald.

Smurfit-Stone operates 30 recycling plants and has sales and procurement offices in North America, Asia and Europe. The company bills itself as one of the industry's leading integrated containerboard and corrugated packaging producers and is one of the world’s largest paper recyclers.