The company is also offering the rigs to vehicle dismantlers for a “very advantageous price”, and has spoken of its concern that new restrictions on hazardous waste disposal could lead to a “severe bottleneck” of ELVs needing depollution before they are shredded.
Following this month's ban on the co-disposal of hazardous waste (see letsrecycle.com story), UK shredders now have to show auditable proof that residues left over from the recycling of ELVs and other end of life products are non-hazardous. Otherwise, the residues have to go to one of the UK's limited number of designated hazardous waste sites for disposal.
Last week's agreement with the Environment Agency gave shredders a three-month window in which only basic de-pollution of vehicles needs to be carried out before shredder residues can be deemed non-hazardous (see letsrecycle.com story).
But, from November 2004 any ELVs recycled in the UK need to be de-polluted to the criteria laid out in the ELV Regulations, otherwise any residues left when steel and recyclable material is taken out will remain hazardous.
Bottleneck
The company said that although it might be possible for shredders to depollute incoming vehicles onsite, a “severe bottleneck” would be created because shredders can process 150 cars an hour, whereas the de-pollution of a single vehicle takes about 30 minutes with current practices.
Sims said that the bottleneck would “render the process unworkable”. It said the need for an infrastructure to depollute vehicles before they reach shredders is imperative.
Graham Davy, managing director at Sims, said: “The implementation of these new changes to the way waste is processed and classified in the UK will provide enormous challenges to industry and local authorities.
“Sims Group's forward-thinking strategy can help support these legislative changes and contribute to the huge benefits they will bring to the environment,” he added.
The depollution rig used by Sims has been designed in partnership with Mechanical Solutions. The rig is standalone, integrated with its own shelter, and Sims said it complies with all health and safety regulations as well as meeting all depollution requirements under the ELV Directive.
WEEE
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) can also have some components that would render shredder residue hazardous. Sims is therefore developing WEEE processing plants at its sites in Stratford upon Avon and Manchester to handle the hazardous components that arise.
The company is now offering a specific service to recycle cathode ray tubes – television and computer monitor glass – classified as hazardous because of the lead and phosphorus content.
Register for free to comment