Efficient MRF design vital for paper recycling

Developing future-proof materials recycling facilities (MRFs) with highly-skilled staff is vital for boosting both profits and the quality of recycled paper sector, according to resource recovery firm Axion Consulting.

Axion director, Keith Freegard, told delegates at a recent paper recycling conference that companies developing MRFs need to plan for expansion, predict likely changes in feed composition and install good management systems in order to meet future waste management challenges.

Mr Freegards comments came during a presentation he made entitled How to make my recycling plant work better at the Paper Recycling Conference Europe, which was held in Warsaw, Poland, last month (October 30-31).

He said: Efficient design takes account of the specification and mix of waste materials changing over time. Building in expansion space for additional units in the future, such as longer conveyors with enough room to add extra sorting systems, means you dont have to completely change your plant layout, which incurs more cost and expensive downtime.

In-depth knowledge and analysis of infeed materials will aid plant design and layout, and help to plan for and cope with future challenges, such as increased complexity of waste products and more material types being collected for sorting.

Mr Freegard added that as most paper is collected in the UK through kerbside, comingled systems, there is a great deal of pressure on MRF operators to keep other materials such as plastics out of the paper stream in order to ensure high quality for paper mills.

He said: Theres a great need in this industry to do a more consistent, higher quality job of the infeed sortation as any contaminants can create problems in the pulping process.

Staff training

The director of the Manchester-based firm also emphasised the importance of having well-trained personnel to run MRFs, commenting that it is no good asking personnel who used to run the landfill site to operate multi-million pound complex sorting processes.

Mr Freegard said: You really have to train them in proper ways of monitoring, managing and controlling plant. We are now in a new era where qualified process engineers need to be designing and operating technically-advanced materials resource recovery plants, not just handling waste.

Highlighting possible solutions and future markets, from developments in sensor-based sorting to consumer attitude changes, Mr Freegard concluded: Big process plants must be designed for flexibility and need proper management. New technological developments should be welcomed you will need them one day!

Following the Warsaw paper conference, it emerged that the MEPs are considering changing proposals on end of waste criteria for waste or recovered paper. The European Parliament is recommending that the end of waste line is put at the mill rather than at waste company level a stance which has been welcomed by the Confederation of Paper Industries (see letsrecycle.com story).