We keep searching for ways to optimize our processes.
For example, we recently installed two optical separators to better sort wood from construction and demolition waste in our site in Nieuwegein. As a result, 12% of the stream passing through these installations is now recovered as class A wood, whilst 8% as class B wood.
This upgrade improves our previous capacity to recover only 18% of class B wood from these streams. Furthermore, it lets us obtain higher quality secondary raw materials reusable to make new chipboards (from class A wood) or produce biomass (from class B wood).
The two optical separators are set up one after the other. The first is a standard separator with an infrared camera that identifies wood and separate it from the waste stream through 256 air valves. The second separator also uses an infrared camera which can recognise waste’s colour and shape. Once the wood passes through this part, it can distinguish and separate class A wood from class B wood by shooting class A wood, which is lighter, to another compartment via another series of air valves.
In addition to high-quality class B wood, this plant can produce circa 20,000 tonnes of class A wood per year. These numbers represent a further decrease in CO2 emissions in the value chain for the construction industry.
The infrared cameras used within the installations have an enormous innovation potential. They’re capable of identifying other materials like plastic or paper among the waste. This possibility gives us the chance to further recycle or reuse more waste from construction and demolition in the future. Stay tuned!
Share your innovative ideaAre you or your organisation interested in circularity and have an innovative solution? Do you wish to implement it at a commercial scale? At Renewi, we’d love to hear from you! Any solution is welcome, and we would love to start with those with the highest and direct impact. Can we help to scale your solution? |
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