19 minute read
Recycling & Waste management
A Record Year for e-Waste Recycling in Ireland
A surge in lockdown spring cleaning saw a record amount of electrical waste collected by the country’s largest recycling scheme in 2020, despite Covid and travel restrictions.
However, WEEE Ireland has warned that the rise in reusing and repairing of electrical goods must be counted towards Ireland’s recycling targets if we are serious about developing a circular economy. WEEE Ireland was one of the best performing recycling schemes in Europe in 2020, with 38,724 tonnes of waste electrical items – including 120,000 fridges and 200,000 TVs and monitors recovered. The equivalent of over 46 million used AA portable batteries were also prevented from ending up in landfill, its annual report revealed. A new record of 10.93kg of e-waste was recycled per head of population last year by the scheme. WEEE Ireland accounts for over two-thirds of all national waste electrical and electronics collection activity on behalf of 1,189 producer members. The scheme achieved the biggest monthly takeback volume in its 16-year history in July when the first lockdown was lifted with a record 3,763 tonnes of electrical waste collected for recycling. However, with electrical consumption rising on a yearly basis, its CEO has called on legislators to recognise the role that unreported activities such as repair are increasingly playing alongside recycling in the circular economy.
Growing Tonnages
“As a nation we are consuming more electrical goods than ever – with the annual tonnage on the market rising from 15kg a head in 2016 to 21kg a head last year,” said WEEE Ireland CEO Leo Donovan. “This rise makes meeting the annual EU WEEE Directive target even harder, despite achieving record recycling levels, as it equates to the percentage of goods sold. “WEEE Ireland has been a huge educator in the areas of reuse and repair, alongside the electrical producers, partnering with new initiatives like Repair My Stuff.ie and My Waste.ie. “It is time to realistically measure the amount of goods that are kept in circulation, rather than basing targets solely on end-of-life recycling, and also legislate for longer-life technologies such as photovoltaic panels and EV batteries. “We have to recognise that significant volumes of WEEE are not being handed over to the schemes but going to export, metal scrap and other flows.” Spring cleaning during lockdown saw significant rises in the amount of easily hoarded small electrical appliances (22%) and small IT equipment (13%) recycled by households. Ireland’s performance in 2020 is made more impressive when lockdown restrictions in the construction industry – which led to a 25% drop in waste fluorescent lighting and lamps entering recycling – are taken into account. In 2020, the equivalent of 225,182 tonnes of CO2 emissions were avoided by recycling e-waste through the WEEE Ireland Scheme as opposed to landfilling. That is the equivalent of the annual carbon consumption of 4,504 hectares of trees The country’s largest electrical and battery recycling scheme also exceeded the EU’s 45% target for waste portable batteries in 2020 by 2% – with 932 tonnes collected, a 5% increase on 2019. “Retail collections were higher than previous years despite the challenges of lockdown, including store opening restrictions and the absence of home installations which will always see old machines collected for recycling,” said Leo. 56% of electrical waste was collected from retailer sites – up 310 tonnes on the previous year, and the sixth year of increases. As the nation heeded calls from WEEE Ireland to recycle as restrictions lifted, collection volumes from local authority sites significantly increased by over 1,000 tonnes to 11,736 tonnes in 2020 – 30% of the total volume collected. “Despite people not being able to travel distances to their local centre for a significant part of 2020 and WEEEE Ireland only able to hold eight public events compared to 50 the previous year, we still succeeded in breaking previous records,” said Leo Donovan. “84% of all material that we collect is recovered for use again in manufacturing through both indigenous operators and specialist processors in Europe, meaning our recycling efforts have a significant impact on the environment.”
Leo Donovan, CEO WEEE Ireland.
Bandvulc launches Wastemaster 5 - the next generation waste tyre
Bandvulc has unveiled the latest next generation tyre in their Wastemaster range. The new Wastemaster 5 state-of-the-art tyre is launched after extensive testing and field trials and marks the 5th generation of the popular Wastemaster tyre product which has been developed, tested and produced at Bandvulc’s Ivybridge factory in Devon.
The Wastemaster 5 will replace the Wastemaster III, a proven product in the waste sector that has been around for more than 20 years. Tony Mailling, Operations Director at Bandvulc comments: “Over the past two years we have seen strong growth in the waste and construction market, which is buoyant at the moment because there’s lot of infrastructure and housing being built. “Our understanding of UK roads and vehicle operating conditions has been a key tool in our market research for this exciting new product. The waste collection market is changing; waste is more segregated now with more collections a week and the collection vehicles are operational in all weather conditions such as sleet, snow, or heavy rain. Our roads can be subject to a lot of debris especially in urban areas so our tyres need to be equipped with features to perform for the driver in all conditions.” Specialist waste vehicles providing kerbside waste collections and operating in recycling sites require a hardworking tyre. Tyres in this industry can be subject to sidewall damage from kerbing, tread damage from stone trapping, chip and chunking from rough surfaces, all which can result in premature removal and not achieving the full life of the tyre. The WM5 retains Bandvulc’s pioneering ARMORBANDTM sidewall technology which offers an additional protective layer of rubber compound on the mid to lower sidewall of the tyre. This tapered protective band adds additional protection against sidewall scrubbing, protects against damage and prolongs the life of the tyre. The tread design on the Wastemaster 5 has also had a complete redesign to offer the latest features for this sector, offering wide zig zag grooves for excellent displacement of mud and water, stone ejection features, stepped tread blocks and additional deep pocket sipes providing excellent traction and grip in severe conditions. The Wastemaster range has continued to evolve with the introduction of a High load version of the Wastemaster II tyre in 2019 and the 295/80R22.5 Wastemaster 5 is also available in a High Load option.
McBreen Environmental invests in second portable dewatering screen from CDE
Waste management specialists McBreen Environmental has invested in its second CDE solution, the new the MSU:10G, to complement its existing CDE plant.
The County Cavan-based company purchased its first CDE system, an MSU:10, in 2018. Its latest investment sees the commissioning of an MSU:10G which will operate alongside its sister plant to support McBreen to expand its capacity as it continues to grow its customer base. Since 2006, McBreen has delivered a range of services including drain surveys, drain cleaning and sludge and grease disposal utilising the latest technology to ensure the highest standards of service for its customers. With depots across Ireland, it offers total waste management solutions nationwide. Waste collected by McBreen was often transported to its main facility in County Cavan for processing. At this facility, the company treats both hazardous and non-hazardous waste to remove solids and separate various constituents in order to maximise recycling. McBreen invested in the original MSU:10 plant to help combat the challenges of waste processing. Waste collected by its vacuum tankers often contains significant amounts of sands and grit that would cause blockages, wear and reduced capacity on site, resulting in increased operational costs, downtime and maintenance requirements. So effective was the MSU:10 at alleviating these issues that McBreen decided to invest in a second unit to expand its capacity.
Small but mighty
A compact, multi-purpose solution for solid/liquid separation, CDE’s latest innovation, the MSU:10G, can be applied to a variety of applications, including tank cleanout operations, gully waste and interceptor cleanouts, mobile decanter protection, backup and emergency screening and drilling muds dewatering. Designed for ease of use and with the contractor at the forefront, the unit can be delivered easily, requires minimal start up time and delivers maximum performance. By diverting useable material from landfill, the MSU:10G enables contractors to significantly reduce disposal costs while its energy efficiency ensures it operates at maximum performance with a greatly reduced carbon footprint. The small but mighty, solution is also portable, meaning it can be transported between sites to process waste closer to the source and eliminating the need to transport waste at high cost to a central processing facility.
Reliability and performance
The new MSU:10G will process 50-60m3/hour, producing a dewatered +4mm oversized product and a sand/grit fraction for safe disposal. The fully mobile and versatile system means it can easily be relocated to where it’s needed or it can be used as a fixed installation to provide protection to the downstream assets. Damien McBreen, Managing Director, McBreen Environmental, states: “The success and quality of the first CDE unit made it an easy decision for us to work with CDE again on this project. We initially purchased our MSU:10 with a view to using it around Ireland on the wide range of projects we undertake. And although we did use it for festivals and other projects the benefit it provided to our main facility meant it became crucial in the process and evolved into a fixed installation. This meant we needed to expand our fleet and knowing the CDE equipment is both reliable and easy to use, together with the fact the system can be both mobile and fixed, was key for us.” Fergal Campbell, Business Development Manager at CDE, “By choosing CDE’s small but mighty MSU:10G, McBreen Environmental can ensure its processes are protected from blockages and accelerated wear while safeguarding its downstream processes. The added benefit of the grit and sand removal will mean that the capacity of its process is maintained without the need for downtime to cleanout any settled solids.” The new system will free up the existing MSU:10 for other on-site screening projects and allow McBreen to facilitate more projects. Always looking to the future and the latest innovations, McBreen identified the capacity restrictions with only one unit available and so invested in the second screening unit to ensure it can continue to provide an industry leading service as the market grows and develops.
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Improved biogas analysis key to unlocking ROI for anaerobic digestion plants
A more stringent approach to the biogas analysis process has the potential to deliver a step-change in ROI for anaerobic digestion (AD) plants, believes a leading global specialist in environmental engineering and gas instrumentation.
More than a year since the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) launched its landmark Biomethane: The Pathway to 2030, which outlined the critical role biomethane can play in decarbonising the UK and achieving a net zero economy, the level of investment in new AD sites remains low. While factors such as policy change and the impact of COVID-19 have undoubtedly influenced the new AD installations, QED Environmental believes improvements to the biogas analysis process could deliver a step-change in quality, and therefore ROI, for biogas production. Mike White, Territory Manager – UK & Ireland at QED Environmental, comments: “While the UK anaerobic digestion industry has not had the rub of the green in terms of policy in recent years, addressing some misconceptions around the subtleties of the production process, can go a long way in repositioning it as a viable contributor to the UK’s decarbonising efforts. “For example, a like-for-like volume of feedstock will not deliver a like-for-like gas composition, as this is ultimately determined by a myriad of interchangeable factors. Gas analysis technology is key to understanding the gas composition, and using it more effectively can make a big difference to the quality of the gas that is produced.” The ADBA believes a more conducive policy environment would enable AD technology produce 8 billion m3 biomethane/year – enough to heat 6.4 million homes by 2030. It claims this would deliver a 6% reduction in total UK greenhouse gases emissions, specifically within the hard-todecarbonise sectors of heat, transport, waste management and agriculture, and 30% of the reduction needed by 2030 to meet our legally binding carbon budget. “There should be little argument about the important role AD contribute towards achieving a net zero economy. However, viable AD operation comes down to ROI and improving the quality of measurement systems will allow operators to make any adjustments to deliver the highest quality of gas at the desired output. Not only will this improve its potential for energy production, it can also protect the CHP engine from increased levels of H2S and O2, as well as excess moisture.” He adds: “Ultimately, if improved measurement can lead to a better ROI on biogas production, we hope it will not only incentivise further investment in the technology, but also induce a return to a more favourable policy environment in the near future.”
Cauldon Cement Plant breaks ground on £13m project
Construction has started at Lafarge Cement’s Cauldon Plant, located in Staffordshire, on a £13m investment project to reduce its carbon footprint.
This will be achieved by building a new pre-processing plant for the storage, handling and feeding of solid alternative fuels, that would otherwise end up as landfill. In addition, a new chloride bypass will be installed, which will ensure quality of product and result in no additional waste. The world class operation, which was the first dry-process cement plant in the UK, is part of Aggregate Industries, which is itself owned by LafargeHolcim - a world leader in carbon reduction initiatives, having recently committed to its net zero climate pledge. Steve Curley, Managing Director Cement, said: “We have a successful history at Cauldon of moving away from the traditional use of fossil fuels and instead utilising renewable fuel sources. This investment marks the next step forward for our sustainable future, allowing us to provide a circular economy by recycling waste supplied to us by reputable organisations that are approved against our strict specification standards, and then using it as fuel within our production process.” After extensive consultation with the local community and other stakeholders, the project started construction in March 2021 and is due to complete in early 2022. The project consists of two parts, the new pre-processing facility with a haulage and feeding platform which will be constructed across the road from the main plant, connected via an innovative conveyor that fully contains the waste fuel during transfer to the plant. This facility can provide 100,000 tonnes of waste fuel per year to the main plant - utilising materials that would otherwise go to landfill. The second part of the project is the new chlorine bypass, which is built into the existing kiln equipment in the main cement plant. The new bypass removes any additional chlorine which may be present due to the use of the new fuel sources, ensuring a consistent high quality product is still produced. The excess chlorine is then utilised at the end of the process, resulting in no additional waste materials. Dragan Maksimovic, CEO at Aggregate Industries UK, added: “It is great to see us continuing to recognise the importance of sustainability and invest in Cauldon Cement Plant to ensure that we further reduce carbon emissions and remain sustainable for the long term, both as a local employer and contributor to the local economy, as well as a UK-wide supplier of high quality products and services.”
Vehicle electrification is at the forefront of thinking as the world confronts the challenges posed by climate change. EV technology is moving apace.
Though electrification has its strongest foothold in the light vehicle market, larger electric vehicles and buses are increasingly being deployed, and advances in hydrogen technology are opening up a promising landscape for the future of electrified heavy-duty vehicles, including off-road construction machinery, writes Alastair Hayfield, senior research director at market research firm Interact Analysis Across the globe, countries are striving to decarbonise. On 12th February 2021, ABC News reported that new US president Joe Biden has ‘jump-started’ the conversation around electric vehicles. The US is back in the Paris Climate Accord, and Biden has placed confronting climate change at the heart of his administration’s objectives - carbon-free electricity by 2035; net-zero emissions by 2050. Major car companies have already responded to the new administration’s initiatives. Ford plans to double investment in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure and General Motors has announced its goal to achieve zero emissions by 2035. The pressure is on for the US construction vehicle industry to up its game regarding electrification. Meanwhile, across the globe, China’s commitment to green energy has been long-standing. Electric buses are a good demonstration of this. With over 400,000 battery buses already in operation across China, the country accounts for over 90% of global electric bus usage. In Europe, two elements, the European Green Deal and the Next Generation EU COVID recovery package constitute the main parts of a strategy involving a rolling out of renewable energy projects. The recovery package will also fund cleaner transport and logistics, and the installation of one million charging points for electric vehicles. The ultimate goal is for the EU to become climate neutral by 2050. On top of this, the UK has also legislated to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by the same point. Against this backdrop, the construction vehicle industry cannot stand idly by. Off-highway vehicle producers will need to continue developing their electric technology as the internal combustion engine moves towards obsolescence.
Major Driver
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) could be a major driver in the electrified heavy machinery market. In 2019, an in-depth study by McKinsey concluded that by 2023, the TCO of heavy electrified machinery could be up to 21% lower than that of similar ICE equipment. Key factors here were the 40 to 60 percent reduction in operational outgoings - lower fuel costs and a more efficient drive-train bringing lower maintenance costs owing to the machinery having fewer moving parts. These reductions would offset the higher up-front costs, including that of the battery and charging infrastructure. Finally, there is a factor that lies central to the operation of construction machinery – the machine operators themselves - the people in the cabs. Within living memory, health, safety, and comfort issues used to be a low priority in the construction industry. Not so today, for, as we all know, safety takes centre stage in the working environment. A key characteristic of the battery electric vehicle is its smooth interface with the person at the controls. It’s easy to operate, clean, quiet, and comfortable. There is little jolting or vibration. Electric construction vehicles are also more versatile. They can operate in enclosed environments where ventilation is an issue. And they can be used in close proximity to people, in city centres, for example, without creating unacceptable noise or pollution. This is a major advantage, living, as we do, in a time when there is considerable intensification of building and infrastructure projects in our cities.
Challenges lie ahead
The past 3 years have seen a transformation in the electrified construction vehicle sector, with every major manufacturer now looking at electric solutions for some of their products. However, it is early days and electric machinery still comprises less than 1% of all construction equipment sold. At Interact Analysis, our research shows that this situation is set to change and that by the mid-2020s, 10-15% of construction vehicles in some sectors will be battery-electric or hybrid. A major challenge is infrastructure. How do we get power into construction sites to recharge machines? Big power supply cables, even transformers, may be needed, or mobile high-power charging systems. This may be difficult when one of the biggest problems at construction sites is lack of space. Or is it realistic for machines to be charged off-site? There are also issues regarding vehicle range – the length of time a vehicle will function before it needs recharging – and downtime when machines are standing idle for charging. How do we bring these machines into existing operational processes so they still do the work that they need to do? One answer would be for construction machine manufacturers to set up their own mock construction sites, so they can run datadriven trials examining how these machines can fit into the operational flow of a site. They could then share their results and inform the construction industry how to go electric. For smaller machines, battery-swapping may be a short-term solution, but on-site charging will still most likely be needed in the longer run. For the largest machines with very intensive duty cycles, the technology simply isn’t there for a battery-electric solution. This is where hydrogen comes in.
Hydrogen: has its time come?
In 2020, JCB unveiled their prototype for a hydrogen-powered excavator, the 20-tonne 220X. Large machines such as the 220X will be able to perform the same duty cycle as their ICE equivalents, with no recharging issues. One major factor in the hydrogen debate is the actual production of the gas. Hydrogen (brown hydrogen) has traditionally been extracted from fossil fuels using a process called coal gasification. But now there are new, cleaner methods such as extraction from natural gas (blue hydrogen), and also through electrolysis, this last method producing what is known as green hydrogen. There have been cost issues with these cleaner production processes, but the existence of competing production methods drives all overall production costs down over time, and research has suggested green options should become financially viable in the next decade. Additionally, as renewable energy production increases, interest is growing in finding new ways to store this energy, and hydrogen is certainly a viable way to store renewable energy. In 2019 the World Energy Council launched Hydrogen Global as a platform to promote the production and use of clean hydrogen. Governments around the world are investing in hydrogen production and setting up projects that will bring technological scale. And scale is important. Many machines will use hydrogen – even aircraft such as Airbus’s zero-emission commercial aircraft codenamed ZEROe, which could be in commission by 2035. Wrightbus, owned by Jo Bamford, son of Lord Bamford, chairman of JCB, announced in 2020 that it would build 3,000 zero-emission fuel cell buses in the UK over the next 4 years. The more widely the technology is used, the faster it will develop. The construction machinery industry will certainly be in the tailwind of this, and the opportunity is there to be at the forefront. To continue the conversation about the future of construction vehicles, contact Alastair directly on Alastair. Hayfield@InteractAnalysis.com
