The 350,000 plant began processing cathode ray tubes (CRTs) in March, and is now running at a level that could process a quarter of a million televisions and computer monitors every year.
” The government needs to educate the public that they need to deal with their electronic waste. “
– Stephen Daughtrey, Bruce Metals Ltd
Stephen Daughtrey, commercial director at Bruce Metals, told letsrecycle.com that he was extremely pleased with the way the plant has been running.
He said: “We have been very busy, and we are delighted with the speed of the plant. We budgeted for it handling 60 to 70 CRTs an hour, but it is currently doing 100.”
Technology
The facility on Sheffield's March Street uses German technology to separate CRTs with equipment including a diamond cutting blade with a laser reading light. The laser identifies the frit line – where the panel and funnel glass meet.
The technology also incorporates vacuum suction, which removes any powder produced during the cutting process, without allowing it to escape into the atmosphere.
Mr Daughtrey said the plant was reaching recovery levels for the materials within the CRTs recycled “well in excess of 70%, probably nearer 90%”.
Bruce Metals has been recovering recyclable metals for about 15 years and part of the move into electronics was spurred on by the precious metals contained within circuit boards. The company accepts CRTs from businesses, local authorities and other organisations as well as from original equipment manufacturers.
Directive
Although Mr Daughtrey said his plant was already busy, he said once new regulations on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) come into force, it will be much busier.
But while the government continues to develop the new regulations, which are to bring in the European WEEE Directive, the Bruce Metals commercial director said the public should be more informed about how the regulations will affect them.
Although the regulations will primarily make electronics producers responsible for collecting and recycling old equipment, Mr Daughtrey believes the “every day punter” needs to know more about their responsibilities before the regulations are brought in.
He told letsrecycle.com: “The year ahead will be quite a difficult one. The thing about the WEEE Directive is that the public doesn't know about it yet. The government needs to educate the public that they need to deal with their electronic waste.
“It is important that the general public needs flagging up before it comes in, but there has been absolutely no publicity. Look at fridge mountains – it hit suddenly,” he warned.
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