Recycling Potential of Mixed Industrial Waste | Recyclingpotenzial von gemischtem Gewerbeabfall

Recycling of waste materials in Europe is governed by the EU Waste Directive 2008 and for certain waste materials specified in further directives and regulations. Mixed industrial waste is waste which was not separated into recyclable fractions by the industrial producer. There is few knowledge available about the composition of mixed industrial waste. This waste is suitable for the production of refuse derived fuel (RDF) mainly because of its high plastic and low water content. In the course of its processing in RDF plants metals are separated to be recycled. Thus a recycling rate of 3–5% related to the input is realized. The aim of this research was firstly to design a variable RDF treatment and recycling plant with an elevated recycling rate for mixed industrial waste, secondly to test the concept on a demonstration scale and thirdly to develop a process proposal. The recycling rate should be raised above 10%. Five recycling materials were defined out of mixed industrial waste which on the one hand can be processed with an existing recycling technology and on the other hand can be marketed economically. Manual sorting analysis for the five materials was performed. The chosen process for the demonstration tests consisted in shredding, magnetic separation, double screening, double ballistic separation and manual sorting. The sorting analysis resulted a share of 27% of the five recycling materials in mixed industrial waste. The tested machines in the demonstration scale worked well. A recycling rate of 15% for mixed industrial waste could be realized. However for residual municipal solid waste it resulted in 7.0%. A process proposal for a variable RDF treatment and recycling plant with elevated recycling rate was presented and the qualities of the separated recycling materials were assessed.