What is the Industrial Recycling Process - and Can I Save?
When the word “recycling” comes to mind, most people think of paper, water bottles, and cardboard.
But recycling is more than that! It can also include industrial recycling.
Industrial recycling is different from other types of recycling. In this article, we’ll look at how different types of major industrial materials are recycled.
Different companies can benefit from recycling in different ways.
Depending on what byproducts you produce, you can either resell them, or reuse them within your company or factory.
Today, we’ll talk about three of the most common ways companies use industrial recycling, and how it affects their bottom line.
Recycling Oil
Recycling Metal Scrap
Recycling Construction Debris
Let’s dive in!
Recycling Oil
Oil has always been a controversial topic in the waste industry. Although the thoughts behind the word “oil” have always been negative, i.g. BP oil spill, recycling it can have a more positive impact on the environment and on a company’s bottom line.
Where does it come from?
Most of the oil that is being recycled comes from oil change shops, mechanic shops, and car dealerships.
Although these are the top oil recycling companies, other companies are considering recycling due to its benefits. How could you gain by recycling oil?
How does it work?
Let’s take a look at the process that goes into oil recycling.
To be recycled, all oil must be tested to see whether it is reasonable for refinement.
After the oil is approved for refinement, then it goes through three stages of refining:
Dehydration
Defueling
Vacuum distillation
These processes are used to separate water and extra chemicals that are still in the oil mixture. Then the oil enters its final processes, hydro-treating, where a sustainable process reduces the amount of carbon, acid, sulphur, nitrogen, etc.
The recycled product is often sold to lubricant manufacturers. They in turn often make their own oil-recycled mixture to benefit their company. Oftentimes, recycled oils are used to produce recycled engines and industrial oils.
How can I benefit?
Oil can save a company thousands of dollars. It does not have an expiration date, meaning they can be reused and reproduced into renewable resources. Depending on a company’s specific operational needs, you can potentially recycle oil and reuse it to generate heating and cooling. This will reduce your electric bills. Oil recycling can also diminish the energy required to produce or process raw materials. For example, recycled oils can be reused to run engines and machines that are used in the manufacturing process.
Recycling Metal Scrap
Many companies across the country recycle 30-40% of their metals. Recycling metals can be very beneficial for the company because one, it reduces extra costs that company does not need to spend more money on, and two, it allows companies to reuse their recycled materials to produce new materials. This will diminish the raw materials expenses of a company and its transportation costs.
Where does it come from?
Metals are collected from different sources (i.e. ships, railroads, cars, structures, equipment) then they are separated by metal types of chemicals that make up the metal.
How is it done?
Different types of metals have different recycling processes, but similar processing methods. The first step in metal recycling is collecting and sorting.
After separating the metals, processing begins. First, metals are shredded, making it easier for metals to be melted. After shredding, metals are melted in large furnaces then purified using a direct electric current to eliminate contaminants. Lastly, the metals enter the purification cycle, where they are cooled and solidified.
Once the process is complete, the metal recycling company or scrap yard will transport the metals to corporations that will then use the new recycled raw materials to produce new goods, such as new metal beams for construction or recycled tinned cans.
How can I benefit?
Recycling metals can save a company thousands of dollars. Not only does it diminish the disposal costs of a company, but companies who use their recycled materials to produce new products can save up to 90% of the energy required to manufacture a new material/product. If you do not own a company that reuses metals to produce products and simply just recycle your metals, you can sell your scrap metals to recycling companies who will reproduce new materials from it. This is good for your company because it will generate additional revenue. As recycling consultants, Waste Consultants can help help guide you on the current markets rates, the best available vendors, and best practices around collecting, sorting, and selling your metal recyclables.
Recycling Construction Materials
Many have wondered where all the leftover construction materials go after a demolition process or a construction. Well, many of them are sent straight to the landfill. Today, landfills are filling up by the minute and it is harder and harder to find land for landfills. By recycling construction materials, this will eliminate the need to send all of the unused materials to landfills.
Less landfills = less toxic build up in the atmosphere.
There are many recyclable materials that can be recycled from a construction site.
Some examples are:
Metals
Wood
Concrete
Glass
asphalt pavement
Gypsum (drywall material)
How can it be reused?
Wood: Untreated and clean wood can usually be reused to make boiler fuel, mulch or engineered board through the process of re-milling.
Metals: See previous section
Asphalt Pavement: leftover materials can produce energy savings. These are often re-melted and turned back into asphalt.
Glass: Leftover windows can be recycled for other projects. Glass can also be melted and reformed into a material that can be used.
Gypsum: This is drywall materials and can be reused to produce recycled drywalls, cement, or be used in the agriculture industry.
How can I benefit?
You and your company can benefit from this! In a recent study, construction companies who recycle have saved and earn profit by recycling their leftover/wasted materials.
In the study, they calculated that companies are able to gain $50/ton of profit for cardboard, $5/ton for materials containing paper, $150/ton for PET materials (which are materials from packaging/ similar to polyester), $250/ton for HDPE plastics (bottles, plastic bags, boxes), and $1,325/ton from recycling metal materials such as aluminum.
Industrial Recycling is Your Ticket to Savings
We’ve looked at specific methods of how industrial materials can be processed and recycled. Here, at WCI, we can help you and your company with your waste management so that you have the opportunity to find savings and protect your bottom line.
We will help you find the right haulers who will not take advantage of you and we’ll make sure you don’t leave any saving opportunities behind.
Want to learn more about how your company can start saving and recycling? Don’t hesitate to contact us and schedule a consultation. We’ll share how our services can benefit you and help you save!