AWM Group has launched WEEEClear as its new electronic recycling business and is setting up the plant to recycle old televisions and computer monitors at its Coseley site, just outside Dudley.
” We believe that our system is the quickest on the market. “
– Alex Husbands, AWM Group
The plant will break down cathode ray tubes (CRTs) collected from local authorities, other waste management companies, small businesses and retailers.
WEEEClear will use diamond cutting technology from Somerset-based CRT Heaven to separate the CRTs into screen glass and lead-containing funnel glass.
Alex Husbands, business development manager at AWM, told letsrecycle.com that the diamond cutters were very robust. “We believe that our system is the quickest on the market, but diamond cutting technology has been around for years,” he explained.
Mr Husbands believes that the plant could even be up and running this month, because CRT Heaven have already tested the equipment in Somerset.
He said: “Because the testing is done down there once we have it on site we will be ready to go.”
Re-use
Those televisions or computer monitors that are still in good working order could be passed on to a re-use organisation, Mr Husbands suggested. To do so, the company is considering seeking a broker to help with such an operation, as long as an acceptable outlet within Europe could be provided with a full audit trail.
AWM Group believes it has outlets for all the main materials and components that will come from the cathode ray tubes, although the lead glass has proved troublesome.
Mr Husbands explained: “Recycling of lead glass could be a problem as it is classified as hazardous, so we can't export it to China even though there is a demand for it. We are still investigating outlets for the material.”
AWM Group's new facility forms part of a 500,000 double investment in 2006. The company has also invested in a new materials recycling facility not far from the CRT recycling plant.
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