Wheelabrator & Inashco JV to Recycle Metals from Waste to Energy Ashes

Inashco's ADR facility in the Netherlands Inashco, a Dutch specialist in the recovery of both ferrous and non-ferrous metals for the ashes of waste to energy facilities, has formed a joint venture with Wheelabrator Technologies dedicated to the recycling of metals from ashes. The Wheelabrator - a subsidiary of Waste Management (NYSE: WM) - explained that the 50/50 owned joint venture company, Eco Recovery Solutions (ERS), will use Inashco’s patented and proprietary Advanced Dry Recovery (ADR) technology to enhance the recovery of ferrous and non-ferrous metals at its waste to energy facilities. Non-ferrous metals that the process is claimed to be capable of recovering include pieces copper, zinc, lead and aluminium as small as 0.5 mm in size - much smaller than non-ferrous materials currently recovered by conventional technologies. Wheelabrator said that it selected the Inashco technology because of its track record in Europe and its ability to process fresh ash without aging, which results in oxidation and diminished product values. ERS will also utilise Inashco’s specialised, proprietary Central Upgrading Facilities currently located in Europe and planned for the U.S. The waste to energy operator said that the recycling process at these facilities produces two streams of high value material - a heavy non-ferrous product and also a light non-ferrous product for sale to Fondel Metals, Inashco’s parent company. There are also plans for ERS to develop aggregate reuse opportunities with the improved ash residue downstream of the ADR process, with the ultimate goal of a circular economic solution for ash management. “This venture with Wheelabrator will establish the foundation for the deployment of a new, disruptive technology that will bring environmental benefits and enhanced economics to the waste to energy industry,” commented John Joyner, president of Inashco North America. Mark Weidman, president of Wheelabrator Technologies, added: "In 2013 alone, we recovered and recycled 142,000 tons of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. This joint venture will allow us to recover significantly more recyclable materials to help preserve our world’s finite environmental resources." Read More Veolia Extends Contract for Steam from Wheelabrator’s Baltimore Waste to Energy Plant Veolia Energy North America and Wheelabrator have extended their 28 year partnership with a contract renewal for steam generated by Wheelabrator’s Baltimore waste to energy facility. Hong Kong Told to Stick with ‘Mass Burn’ Waste to Energy over Plasma Gasification Hong Kong’s environment minister has been told the region should stick to ‘mass burn’ thermal treatment for its first planned waste to energy facility over advanced technologies such as plasma gasification. ‘First Burn’ of RDF at Viridor’s Huge Runcorn Waste to Energy Plant UK waste and recycling firm, Viridor has begun using RDF for full commissioning at its 70 MW waste to energy facility in Runcorn, near Manchester UK.