Waste360’s Post

Sept 2024 Fire Report: The Neverending Summertime Spike and Engineering Innovation: In August, the industry faced 44 fires, with 20 occurring in waste, paper, and plastic operations, and eight were deemed catastrophic based on the National Waste & Recycling Association’s $400,000-plus loss definition. Fire incidents, driven by factors like lithium-ion batteries and seasonal heat, have risen consistently since 2016, and 2024 is on track to set a record for the highest number of facility fires in the U.S. and Canada, despite typically seeing fewer fires in the latter half of the year. #ecoxpress #wastefree #ecoliving

Thanks for attending my webinar, Colin Staub from Resource Recycling, Inc., and putting together this overview on this year's findings of my "7th Annual Reported Waste and Recycling Facility Fires" report published earlier this month. “Regardless of the operators’ experience, recycling general electronics comes with many different processes, such as disassembly and removal of lithium-ion batteries in products, which exposes them to fire risks,” the report stated. “Unfortunately, operators performing this necessary function for society are often left to hold the bag with most of the risk and cost of fire dangers.” The e-scrap facility fire increase ran counter to the overall trend of fewer recycling fires last year. Across all recycling facility types – including #escrap, #scrapmetal, #C&D debris, #rubber and #organics – 373 #fires were reported by news media, down 4% year over year. And in #materialsrecoveryfacilities and #transferstations, the trend was even more pronounced: 2023 brought 187 reported fires in these sites, down from 205 the prior year. The general #scrap #metal sector saw a slight rise, reporting 116 fires, up from 112 the prior year. If you missed the launch #webinar, you can watch at your leisure at: https://lnkd.in/gzvNX9AC If you would like a #digital or printed copy, the links are available at: https://lnkd.in/gsKXde6E https://lnkd.in/gFqKhtGS

🔥 A study by the National Waste and Recycling Association highlights a concerning 41% increase in catastrophic fire losses at recycling facilities over the last five years. More than 5,000 fires occur annually, with a growing number linked to lithium-ion batteries mistakenly placed in recyclables by consumers. This trend poses a significant risk to recycling facilities, impacting insurance costs and potentially leading to regulatory changes. The report emphasizes the need for better fire detection, vigilance, and industry-wide initiatives to manage the escalating threat of lithium-ion battery fires in waste and recycling systems. #BatteryFires #RecyclingSafety #WasteManagement 🔄🔍 https://lnkd.in/gjizNRGn

The April issue of Waste Advantage Magazine is now available here: https://lnkd.in/ew57knxV Our Spotlight is on Pro Recycling Group, who as a full-service provider, has focused on promoting and growing recycling in their communities, growth opportunities, and maximizing investments towards zero landfill initiatives. Be sure to check out their story. “How to Prepare for Financing and Improve Your Chances of Getting Approved” talks about the benefits of being more organized and prepared you are when you meet with a lender, while “How Tarp Innovation is Shaping Safety, Productivity, Cost-Effectiveness in Waste” discusses electrically operated tarp systems boosting safety and efficiency for the waste industry. In addition, Maximizing Metal Recovery with End-to-End Recycling Systems” covers end-to-end ferrous and nonferrous recovery solutions that hold the promise of maximizing the value of scrap metal, and “Transfer Station Tipping Floors: Not Just a Normal Slab-on-Grade” covers how with some changes in design and operational approaches and owner expectations, unexpected premature wear and deterioration on tipping floors can be mitigated. And don’t miss additional articles on the impact of landfill compactor machines, tips to get more residential garbage customers, investigating the pros and cons of buying or renting containers, repurposing wind turbine blades, and more!

We simply have to work together to ensure that battery cells are disposed of in a responsible manner, there is regulation and instruction required to dispose of cells to alleviate both cross contamination and risk to life. We at LINEV Systems are working hard in the mid cycle process to help recyclers in thier quest to ensure that once battery cells reach the final collection points that the cells are sorted into thier respective chemical families to avoid the possibility of fires between opposing cell construction and chemical elements. Its only after reliable sorting can the cells be advanced and broken down into thier constient parts for effective reclamation and recycling of the valuable materials. We suspect this fire could be related to thermal runaway - One of the primary risks related to lithium-ion batteries is thermal runaway. Thermal runaway is a phenomenon in which the lithium-ion cell enters an uncontrollable, self-heating state. Thermal runaway can result in extremely high temperatures, violent cell venting, smoke and fire. The much wider consideration is in an the era of a digital-centric lifestyle, our dependency on portable devices like laptops, smartphones, and electric vehicles has surged, ushering in an age where batteries play a pivotal role in powering our daily lives. However, the environmental repercussions of disposing of these batteries at their end of life have become an escalating concern. This conundrum has propelled the need for effective battery recycling solutions that can mitigate the adverse effects of electronic waste on our planet. This article delves into the dual nature of battery recycling – exploring its myriad benefits while addressing the challenges that stand in the way of creating a sustainable and responsible approach to managing end-of-life batteries. The Environmental and Economic Benefits of Battery Recycling: Battery recycling emerges as a beacon of hope in the landscape of waste management, offering a host of environmental and economic advantages. The extraction and repurposing of valuable metals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt from used batteries aid in resource conservation, curbing the necessity for environmentally degrading mining practices. Moreover, recycling prevents hazardous heavy metals found in batteries from leaching into landfills and groundwater, effectively reducing the potential for environmental contamination. Take a look at our new langing page www.batterysorting.com Rob Keeler Chris Howard Tim B. Jaimie H Kathryn Leagas James Esom Vladimir LINEV Miles Freeman Damian Lambkin René Ruijs Martijn Agterhuis David Batstone Daniel A. Nye, CFA Lukas Block Lukas Brandl Zak Batstone Robin Brundle Jo Dennis #UnitedForInnovation #LINEVSystems #LINEVSystemsUK #LINEVSystemsUS #LINEVSytemsUAE #LINEVSystemsEU #security #eu #Poland #xrayinspection #ndt #ndttesting #battery #batteryresearch #batterytechnology https://lnkd.in/dxqEdyg2

The video in this article about the growing number of fires caused by #lithiumionbatteries in #Australia is nothing short of terrifying #batteryfires #lithiumbattery #ewaste #firesafety Thanks to The Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA) for sharing. https://lnkd.in/ecUV8_s3

Recent reports in the danger of battery fires in the #recycling and waste sector. Re.Group 's Garth Lamb does an excellent (and scary) job of explaining how #batteries put lives and #recycling facilities at risk, with @Tom Elliot on News Talk 3AW 693. As Garth puts it, the resulting fires are “very very difficult to put out, very intense.” Check out his interview here: https://lnkd.in/g_tZ8kJM #batteryfires #batterysafety #batteryrecycling

The #Consequences of not recycling materials like #plastic, #paper, and #electronics are far-reaching and impact various aspects of the #environment: 1-Deforestation: Without recycling paper, the demand for new paper products may lead to increased deforestation as more trees are cut down to meet the demand for pulp and paper production. 2-Increased Oil Production: Failure to recycle plastic means a continuous reliance on virgin plastic production, which is derived from oil. This contributes to the depletion of fossil fuels and the environmental impact associated with oil extraction and processing. 3-Mining for Virgin Materials: Neglecting the recycling of electronic materials leads to increased demand for virgin resources, necessitating more mining activities. Mining has environmental consequences such as habitat destruction, soil erosion, and water pollution. 4-Limited Resources: The Earth indeed has finite resources, and unsustainable consumption and disposal practices can deplete these resources rapidly, leading to environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity. The concept of a circular economy, is crucial in addressing these issues. Recycling and reusing materials help close the loop, minimizing the need for constant extraction of new resources and reducing the environmental impact of waste disposal. Embracing a circular economy involves designing products with recyclability in mind, promoting responsible consumption, and implementing effective waste management systems. Individuals, businesses, and governments play essential roles in fostering a circular economy by prioritizing recycling, reducing waste, and supporting sustainable practices. Education and awareness about the environmental consequences of neglecting recycling are also vital for encouraging widespread adoption of eco-friendly behaviors. OUR TECHNOLOGY IS NOT NEW, BUT WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH IT IS! 1,753,000 Operating production process hours 75 application use cases proven by Fortune 1000 25 Commercial plants installed, across food, military, aerospace mining, and nuclear industries 1977 first systems deployed pioneering molecular recycling 2006 -1st 4 Ton per hour multiphase reactor commissioned 2020 Waste Management "Regenesis" Application Integration 2022 Carbotura Regenesis Launched to select clients Almost any waste stream Unsorted MSW Landfill Leachate (MLW) Contaminated Recycling (CSW) Sewage, Sewage Plant Sludge (MLW) Settling Pond Sludge (MLW)  Hazardous Waste If you are interested in learning more about H5O and our services, or how we can benefit your company, municipality. Please message me for more information. Thank you for your time. Brian Hall www.h5oenvironmental.com

Ensuring your #MRF is designed for #Safe and #Efficient #Operations is key to your success. Check out the latest article by Jeff Eriks and Evan Williams in Waste Advantage Magazine talking about this very topic that will help you for your next project!

We are pleased to announce that following discussions with the WRA, the Environment Agency has extended RPS 249 until the end of September. Regulatory Position Statement 249 allows household waste recycling centres to move and process potentially hazardous waste wood fence posts and decking as non-hazardous. It was due to expire at the end of March but has now been extended until September 30 2024. The move was requested by the WRA to provide more time for the waste wood industry to sample and test this material to confirm what earlier tests have shown, that its hazardous content is diminishing and will no longer be there in future, as these items fall out of the waste stream. More time is required because fence posts and decking are very hard to find over the Autumn and Winter and are expected to be more abundant over the Spring and Summer. However, it is now imperative that WRA members handling fence posts and decking from households take part in sampling and testing the material before the RPS expires in six months. Vicki Hughes, Technical Lead on the WRA Board, said: "This will give us the evidence we need to draw final conclusions before the RPS is withdrawn at the end of September, allowing us to keep these items in the waste stream rather than having to segregate them as hazardous.” You can read the full story on the WRA website below ⬇ #regulations #wastewood #testing #sampling