Waste Recycling

Goals

Define terms related to waste reduction

Hazardous waste recyclingDiscuss advantages associated with

waste reduction and recycling.Discuss recycling of specific MSW

componentsDiscuss ways to increase recycling

Terminology Reduction: Reduction in generation, reduction in amount

of material, increase lifetime, or eliminate the need Recycle - used, reused, or reclaimed, use of the material

as a source raw material, involves physical transformation– Reused: The direct use or reuse of a secondary

material without prior reclamation– Reclaimed: regeneration of wastes or recovery of

usable materials from wastes (e.g., regenerating spent solvents in a solvent still). Wastes are regenerated when they are processed to remove contaminants in a way that restores them to their usable condition materials that must be reclaimed/recycled prior to use or reuse

Recovery - Process to recover useful material from mixed waste (energy is an example)

Hazardous waste materials that are recycled may be:Excluded from the definition of solid

waste and fall out of RCRA altogether; Subject to less-stringent regulatory

controls; or Required to comply with the full

universe of hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal regulations.

Inherently waste-like materialsThe following materials are solid wastes

when they are recycled in any manner: (1) Hazardous Waste Nos. F020, F021

(unless used as an ingredient to make a product at the site of generation), F022, F023, F026, and F028.

(2) Secondary materials fed to a halogen acid furnace that exhibit a characteristic of a hazardous waste or are listed as a hazardous waste

Materials are solid wastes (and potentially hazardous waste) if they are recycled in the following ways: Used in a manner constituting disposal - Directly

placing wastes or products containing wastes on the land is considered to be use constituting disposal.– If, however, direct placement on the land is consistent

with its normal use (e.g., pesticides), then the material is not regulated as a solid waste.

– For example, heptachlor can potentially be a P-listed waste. This pesticide is not regulated as a solid waste, however, when it isused as a pesticide.

Burned for energy recovery Reclaimed (with some exceptions) - materials that

must be reclaimed/ recycled prior to use or reuse Accumulated speculatively

Materials that are not solid waste (and therefore not hazardous wastes) when recycled:

(i) Used or reused as ingredients in an industrial process to make a product, provided the materials are not being reclaimed; or

(ii) Used or reused as effective substitutes for commercial products; or

(iii) Returned to the original process from which they are generated, without first being reclaimed or land disposed.

Materials Subject to Less Stringent Standards Universal Waste regulations include batteries,

pesticides, lamps (e.g., fluorescent bulbs), and mercury-containing equipment (e.g., thermostats) (see 40 CFR Part 273).

Used Oil includes petroleum-based or synthetic oil that has been used (see 40 CFR Part 279 ).

Waste-Derived Fertilizers (e.g., zinc fertilizer products) and Other Materials Used in a Manner Constituting Disposal (see 40 CFR Part 266 Subpart C).

Materials Utilized for Precious Metal Recovery (see 40 CFR Part 266 Subpart F).

Spent Lead-Acid Batteries (see 40 CFR Part 266 Subpart G - note that lead-acid batteries may also be managed as a Universal Waste).

Hazardous Waste Burned in Boilers and Industrial Furnaces

Recycling Advantages

Prevents the emission of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants,

Saves energy, Supplies valuable raw materials to industry, Creates jobs, Stimulates the development of greener

technologies, Conserves resources for our children’s future,

and Reduces the need for new landfills and

combustors.

MSW Recycling Goals

25% by 1995 (was met)30% by 2000 (was met)35% by 2005 (not met)

http://www.epa.gov/garbage/facts-text.htm

http://www.epa.gov/garbage/facts-text.htm

Recycling Challenges

Location of wastes (9000 curbside programs) Uncertainty of supply Administrative and institutional constraints Legal restrictions Uncertain markets Technical challenges to recycling Changes in materials (i.e. light weighting) Too many items in waste Actually encourages waste production

(because recycling will take care of it)

SWANA Recommendations to Increase Reduction/Recovery Encourage more extensive product

stewardship by product designers, manufacturers retailers, and consumers

Expand efforts by federal, state, and provincial governments to develop markets for recycled materials and recovered energy

Provide financial incentives for investments in recycling, composting and the use of recovered materials

SWANA Recommendations to Increase Reduction/Recovery Include WTE and conversion

technologies in renewable portfolio standards and green power programs

Encourage the recovery and use of landfill gas by maintaining federal tax credits and through renewable portfolio standards and green power programs

Support technology transfer and research efforts that have the potential to increase waste recovery rates

Commodity % of MSW Recycled

Paper and Paperboard

48.1

Steel 36.4

Aluminum 21.4

Glass 18.8

Plastics 5.2

Paper Recycling

Problems– Chlorination produces dioxins/furans– Inks are petrochemical based– Acid used to break fibers shortens life– Coating of high gloss paper– Demand for high quality paper– Glues, laminates, plastics, inks not water

soluble– Paper can only be reused 4-12 times, always

need a virgin source

Paper Recycling

~ 50% of consumed material and growing

Goal 55% by 2012Strong markets for old corrugated

cardboard (OCC) and newsprint (ONP)

Expanding domestic and international demand

Office paper lower demand

Steel Recycling

Expanding economy – increased steel demands; China and India biggest markets

36.4% of steel is recycled Use of plastic for automobiles is a problem One ton steel recycled saves 2500 lb of

iron ore, 1000 lb of coal, 40 lb of limestone, and significant energy savings

Aluminum Recycling About 51 percent of aluminum cans is being

recycled Twenty years ago it took 19 aluminum cans to make

one pound, but today, aluminum beverage cans are lighter and it takes 29 cans to make a pound.

Americans throw away enough aluminum every three months to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet.

Making new aluminum cans from used cans takes 95 percent less energy and 20 recycled cans can be made with the energy needed to produce one can using virgin ore.

Domestic recycling has declined recently, collection is expensive

Glass Recycling Glass always lags other recyclables Alternative markets needed – grind for

construction fill, “glassphalt,” fiberglass Transportation of heavy glass is expensive Raw materials are inexpensive Contamination is an issue Reuse used to be common practice; however

as manufacturing plants became larger and decreased in number, bottles had to be carried further for refilling.

More colored glass is imported than used domestically

Plastic Recycling

Problems– Light weight, bulky, low density– Wide variety of polymers– Concerns over contamination for

reuse– Difficult to differentiate among types

Plastic Recycling

PET and HDPE have high prices due to domestic and international demand

Curbside recycling is down, driving prices up

More expensive oil prices makes virgin plastic more expensive

Return to Home Page

Return to Home Page

Last updated July 2008 by Dr. Reinhart