LIFE & waste prevention, recycling and reuse
LIFE, the EU funding tool for the Environment
Since 1992, LIFE has contributed to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental policy and legislation by co-financing pilot or demonstration projects with European added value. In the waste sector, LIFE has supported initiatives that reduce the negative impact of waste on the environment and public health and ensure the most efficient use of natural resources.
The From Roof to Road project developed an economical and environmentally friendly methodology for reusing the bitumen from waste roofing felt in road construction. The EU produces around 1.8 million tonnes of this waste every year, including 40 000 tonnes in Denmark, of which 60% is incinerated and 40% landfilled. The recycling process developed by the project consists of three stages: • Collection of waste roofing material through the establishment of a network of collection sites with 150 waste producers. • Sorting, grinding and mixing the material using an innovative mobile recycling machine. • Delivery of the new recycled bitumen for asphalt production. The project collected a total of 1 000 tonnes of roof felt waste during its lifetime, of which approximately 60% was extracted as reusable bitumen aggregate. The product was both tested in laboratories and applied in 10 on-site test mixes with good results. This work demonstrated that the recycled bitumen can be successfully used for most grades of asphalt and passed all necessary certifications except for use on airport runways. Apart from providing a profitable and environmentally-friendly economic activity, the project has produced environmental benefits derived from savings in CO2 emissions from incineration, estimated at 1.677 kg CO2 per kg of roofing waste. Website: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/ index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=3275
The CLEAN project demonstrated an energy-efficient recycling process for plastic, aluminium and laminate waste from used drink cartons. This technology is able to separate the aluminium for reuse in the aluminium industry and the generation of green electricity. The waste targeted is made up of three components: cardboard, plastic and aluminium. The innovative aspect of this project concerns the recycling of the plastic-aluminium layer. After separating the cardboard layer through mechanical means, the plastic and aluminium are separated through pyrolisis – i.e. heating the laminate residue in a controlled environment so that it does not burn, allowing the plastic to evaporate and leaving the aluminium unaffected. The plastic, now in the form of hot gas, is extracted from the chamber and used as fuel for the thermal processes of the plant. The main results of this new recycling process can be summarised as follows: • Plant capacity: 50 000 tonnes/year of drink cartons. • Energy saved because of the hydrocarbon oils and gases extracted and used to generate electricity: 6 300 tonnes/year of natural gas. • The recovery of 1 260 tonnes/year of aluminium equates to annual savings of 21 000 MWh and 6 000 tonnes of CO2. This project has developed an innovative green technology that can help to reduce the impact of the more than one million tonnes of drink cartons thrown away in Europe every year. Website: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/ index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=3101
Ceramics and water sludge
The MEIGLASS project successfully demonstrated an energy-efficient, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly process for recovering dirty cullet rejected by primary cullet treatment plants. This glass, which currently accounts for 23-25% of the total glass recovered, is rejected by the industry because of the impurities present in the material, mainly plastics, ceramics and organic matter. The project has demonstrated an innovative technology that enables this waste glass to be recovered through a water-efficient cullet washing system that separates the impurities from the cullet. After the separation of the materials, the recovered glass is ground and sorted by size producing a “glassy sand” that can be reused by the glass industry. The methodology employed by MEIGLASS has enabled the treatment of a total of 200 000 tonnes/year of dirty cullet, yielding the following results: •9 9% reduction of cullet rejects. • I n the glass container industry: Reduction of primary material use by 20%, saving at least 5% of the energy consumed in the whole process. • I n the ceramic and brick industries: Replacement of the raw alkali-feldspar used in these industries (some 40%) by the recycled glass. The recovered glass is now used by the glass container industry (around 70%), by the ceramic industry (20%) and by the bricks industry (5%). Only 1% of material, mainly organic residues from the cleaning and cracking systems, still has to go to landfill. Website: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/ index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=3067
Photo: LIFE05 ENV/IT/000907
Photo: LIFE06 ENV/IT/000332
GLASS Photo: LIFE06 ENV/E/000010
METALS Photo: LIFE07 ENV/DK/000102
BITUMEN
Eco bull-nose
demonstrated an innovative system that reduces the amount of sludge produced from the polishing of bullnose ceramic tiles/strips. This sludge is a mixture of abrasive particles (diamond, silicone carbonate) produced from the grinding wheels and water and cannot be recycled, as it is difficult to separate the particles. The process developed by the project makes use of both the water and the abrasive properties of the particles in the sludge and integrates them in the bull-nose making phase of ceramic tiles. This is done by separating the water from the particles by decantation; abrasive particles are used in the next polishing phase as abrasive matter together with innovative polyoxymethylene grinding wheels. The reclaimed water is used for cooling the cutting disks. Eco bull-nose achieved its goals demonstrating the following results: • 100% reduction in use of “fresh” water, producing savings of some 500 000 litres/year. • 100% elimination of sludge disposed in landfill, saving 12 000 litres/month. The remaining sludge (approximately 10 000 litres/year) can be sent for reuse in the production of recycled bricks. • A reduction of wear of the grinding tools (usage is cut by 67%) increasing the lifetime of the tools by around 50%. • A reduction of used grinding wheels, saving of approximately 1 300 wheels/year.
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/ index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=2892
Environment Visit the LIFE website: www.ec.europa.eu/life