Från avfall till resurs? : Återvinningsmöjligheter för slipmull och slipskivor vid Atlas Copco Tierpverken

Global resource consumption is increasing due to population growth and industrialization, placing significant strain on the environment. If this development continues, it risks leading to resource scarcity. As a result, the extraction of virgin materials increases, contributing to higher emissions and pollution. To mitigate this threat, a greater portion of waste currently being subject to landfill disposal must be recycled, and a transition from a linear to a circular economy is necessary. Therefore the purpose of the study is to provide Atlas Copco Tierpverken with a knowledge base identifying potential companies capable of recycling grinding swarf and grinding wheels. Additionally, the study presents a status report regarding how other companies work with grinding swarf and grinding wheels. The goal of the report is to identify a collaboration partner who can recycle the materials. To achieve the goal and fulfil the purpose, a combination of literature studies and personal communication with company representatives was used. The companies included were selected based on their relevance and distance from Atlas Copco Tierpverken. The results show that grinding swarf is primarily recycled through briquetting followed by remelting into steel, or through chemical extraction of ferric chloride. Recycling of grinding wheels is made by re-creating grinding wheels or grinding into grains. The recycling of grinding swarf is performed in Sweden while the recycling of grinding wheels takes place in Europe. Although these companies enable the recycling of these materials, certain obstacles remain, most notably the need for investment by Atlas Copco or collaboration to overcome financial barriers. Additional challenges include balancing the environmental benefits of recycling against the potential increase in CO₂ emissions resulting from long-distance transportation. Without addressing these issues, the materials in question are likely to continue being landfilled. Keywords: Grinding swarf, Grinding wheels, Landfill waste, Recycling & Circular economy