With the help of EU funds, Slovakian recycling business Elektro Recycling acquired new equipment that has made the automated part of its processing plant more efficient, allowing it to increase its waste recovery rate and capacity to process electrical and electronic equipment.
- 18 June 2020
Thanks to the project, we have streamlined and expanded the range of mechanical waste treatment, thus increasing the purity of the output materials. We are currently evaluating once non-valued material flows. We are getting a higher output when processing electrical waste, and a higher yield and purity of waste. The purity of copper-based output fractions and aluminium has reached more than 98 %.
Located in Slovenská Ľupča, in the central Slovak region of Banská Bystrica, Elektro Recycling’s waste recycling capacity has been increased by 995 tonnes per year and the amount of recycled non-hazardous waste by 130 tonnes per year.
It has become an example of best practice in the region. The project contributed to meeting EU requirements for increasing the recycling and recovery of electrical waste.
Less waste on landfills
The company’s upgraded production line is saving natural resources by increasing output – and purity – of metals like copper, aluminium and zinc. The increased waste recovery rate has reduced the amount of waste deposited on local landfills and the negative impact this has on the environment.
Part of the company’s recycling is done manually to separate electronic material that contains hazardous waste – such as LCD screens, halogen lights, toners and batteries – all of which needs to be recycled differently. Most of the material acquired under the project was to improve the sorting rate of mixed materials after the separation of hazardous waste.
Improving the efficiency of the entire recycling process
A new machine with powerful electromagnets is now used to separate electrical and electronic equipment from non-ferrous metals, plastics and other impurities. Once sorted, the non-ferrous waste is separated into recyclable waste, such as rubber, plastic, glass and wood, and anything else that cannot be further recycled.
The metallic, non-hazardous waste is automatically separated based on its mechanical and physical properties. A new vertical hydraulic press reduces the volume of waste before it goes into a granulator. The company also acquired a device that collects dust particles from inside the granulator. A vacuum cleaner was acquired so staff can keep the processing facility clean.
After passing through the granulator, the waste is put through mechanical, pneumatic, magnetic, vibration and electrostatic separation machines. The resulting exit material is ready for re-use in the production of raw materials, saving – and promoting the re-use of – natural resources.
Elektro Recycling is constantly looking for ways to improve and optimise its recycling process to ensure its products are as pure as possible.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “IEWTPR – Increasing the efficiency of waste treatment processes for reuse” is EUR 697 499, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 313 874 through the “Quality of Environment” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Sustainable use of natural resources through development of environmental infrastructure”.