A new dawn for buried garbage? An investigation of the marketability of previously disposed shredder waste

Abstract

This paper examines the market potential of disposed shredder waste, a resource that is increasingly emphasized as a future mine. A framework with gate requirements of various outlets was developed and contrasted with a pilot project focusing on excavated waste from a shredder landfill, sorted in an advanced recycling facility. Only the smallest fraction by percentage had an outlet, the metals (8%), which were sold according to a lower quality class. The other fractions (92%) were not accepted for incineration, as construction materials or even for re-deposition. Previous studies have shown similar lack of marketability. This means that even if one fraction can be recovered, the outlet of the other material is often unpredictable, resulting in a waste disposal problem, which easily prevents a landfill mining project altogether. This calls for marketability and usability of deposited waste to become a central issue for landfill mining research. The paper concludes by discussing how concerned actors can enhance the marketability, for example by pre-treating the disposed waste to acclimatize it to existing sorting methods. However, for concerned actors to become interested in approaching unconventional resources such as deposited waste, greater regulatory flexibility is needed in which, for example, re-deposition could be allowed as long as the environmental benefits of the projects outweigh the disadvantages.

Guiding Future Research on the Valorisation of Shredder Fine Residues: A Review of Four Decades of Research

“…Thereby, the understanding of the implications of current policies on the valorisation of shredder fines has become marginalised. However, the general applicability of the findings, irrespective of the region of focus in the study, is an ad- Studies focusing on regulatory conformance of valorisation measures: (Allen and Fisher, 2007) and (Johansson et al, 2017). Studies focusing on policy implications of valorisation measures: (Nayak and Apelian, 2014) and (Dubois et al, 2015).…”

“…Note 1: Mallampati et al (Mallampati et al, 2016) Singh, Yang, et al (2016c), Singh, Yang, et al (2016b), and Singh, Chang, et al (2016a). Studies focusing on the estimation of recovery potential: (Reuter et al, 1999), (Péra et al, 2004), (Bareel et al, 2006), (Allen and Kolb, 2009), (Konetschnik and Schneeberger, 2009), (Edo et al, 2013), (Ahmed et al, 2014), (Johansson et al, 2017). Studies focusing estimation of environmental risk: (Lanoir et al, 1997), Börjeson (2000), (Gonzalez-Fernandez et al, 2008), (Gonzalez-Fernandez et al, 2009), (Morselli et al, 2010), (Fiore et al, 2012), (Simona et al, 2017).…”

“…For example, in Sweden, significant uncertainties exist among the local institutions regarding what quality requirements actually rule in different situations and settings concerning the use of secondary materials, despite the EU and national policies for increased resource efficiency. Consequently, the high environmental and human health risk of contaminants in secondary resources is preconceived, and over-prudent limits on contamination levels are imposed (Johansson et al, 2017), which pose a major challenge in producing marketable FDRs. Providing insights on anticipated future policy changes is also important.…”

“…The significance of this perspective in accurately ascertaining the potential of residue valorisation has also been recognised in relation to the valorisation of MSWI bottom ash (Ribbing, 2007) and other types of industrial residues (Johansson et al, 2012;van Beers et al, 2009;Van Gerven et al, 2005). Some authors (Allen and Fisher, 2007;Johansson et al, 2017) have slightly touched upon these aspects concerning fines valorisation via establishing the gate requirements of potential users of FDRs; nevertheless, this area of knowledge, to a large extent, remains a gap in the literature. On the other hand, understanding the marketability of FDRs is incomplete without knowledge of the market forces at play and the dynamics of business development between shredding companies and users of FDRs.…”

Operationalizing Industrial Ecology in the Waste Sector : Roles and tactics for circular value innovation

“…Other researchers in the field of IE have found comparable enabling factors (market price, alternative cost, economies of scale) for similar activities such as extracting resources from landfills (Peck 2003;Johansson et al 2016) and industrial wastes (Andrews 2002). Additional factors identified in the field which can impact the viability of resource extraction roles are heterogeneity and functionality of the extracted resources ) and institutional capacity (via e.g.…”