MEDIO AMBIENTE

It so happens that the glass fibre waste stream could be used as a reinforcement fibre in the Urchin board proposed in section 6.2.10.1 of case study two. Other theoretical uses arise from using Pothmann’s hierarchy of waste reuse (see Table 6.17).

6.3.8.2 Findings in the industrial ecosystem

Although research has shown the technical feasibility of reusing glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) recyclate in several applications, a recent report on research and development in composite recycling (Job 2010) points out that the economic case for recycling GFRP is not yet proven. Additionally there is a need for capital investment to initiate a GFRP recycling supply chain. This case study confirms that the glass fibre recycling market is still in its early stages, there are no major glass fibre recyclers. Big companies such Knauff recycle their manufacturing glass fibre waste within their own processes, but are not keen on taking waste from other manufacturers.

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Table 6.17 Resource potential of a waste stream

Reuse waste

hierarchy Scrim and laminated glass fibre waste

1. Use of the total characteristics

Using the total characteristic of the waste stream would imply to make use of the glass fibre scrim trimmings they come in the roll form. One possible transformation would be to incorporate the rolls into a plastic injection moulding process to fabricate reinforced discs.

Laminated glass fibre scrim cut offs could be reused directly in GRP applications, such as the dingy shell made entirely from manufacturing waste. 8

2. Use of the physical components

The matrix of the scrim could be preserved and used as a reinforcement textile if chopped to a suitable size.

3. Use of the chemical components

The glass fibre material provides good sound and thermal insulation, this property has numerous applications as shown in the wheel of waste.

4. Use of the chemical bonding

The adhesives could be extracted for fuel recovery and the glass fibres could be recycled in glass furnaces.

5. Returning the original

elementary constituents to nature

The safest way to return glass fibre to nature is to recycle it into glass and once the glass has reached its end of life it can be ground to a sand to be reused in the industrial metabolism or used as unbound aggregate in road construction.

Wait (2010) reports on the results of a research project at the University of Birmingham, a manufacturing process was developed to transform “waste slittings” and “direct loom waste” into filament wound composite tubes that are being reused in-house to replace existing cardboard box tubes at P-D Interglass, a weaver of technical glass fibre fabrics. According to personal communications with the project leader, Professor Gerard Fernando at Birmingham University, the project is awaiting final trial results, but the composite tubes are promising a ‘long and durable life’. Other companies, such as JDH, could start exploiting the

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clean filament winding technology to transform a similar range of similar waste streams into value adding co-products using the “waste alchemist” business model introduced in section 6.2.10.2 of case study two. The clean filament winding technology is commercialised by Mouldlife © within their composites and tooling division (http://www.mouldlife.co.uk/Composites-Tooling.html). The feasibility of this waste transformation is still subject to approval for environmental regulations and the applicable industry standards.

6.3.9 Lessons learned

It was observed that there are several barriers to overcome in order to upgrade the glass fibre waste in this case study.

a) Research and development (R&D)

Limitations in R&D impair the development of new co-products, even when solutions are proven. For example, glass fibre waste from GRP has been incorporated into cement composites, bituminous mixes and rubber; in principle the glass fibre waste from James Dewhurst could be incorporated into such products but the optimal fibre length and quantities of glass fibre waste are yet to be determined given James Dewhurst’s particular waste stream.

b) Lack of standards, waste protocols and product specification

Potential customers of waste co-products would be easier to persuade if a product made from upgrading waste is backed up by a waste protocol, an industry standard or if there is already a product specification to include recycled content material. This is shown in the case of the eco-screed manufacturers who are reluctant to include glass fibre waste into their product because the material is not included under the British Standard specifications.

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c) Lack of waste exchange platforms

In this particular case study NISP was not able to find a waste symbiosis in the industrial region of the UK Northwest. But once a query was posted in the LinkedIn group, a request was made by Faurecia which has several plants across Europe. It is only recently that a new platform for waste exchange has been launched in the UK, namely http://www.wasteproducerexchange.com which could enable waste exchange across a broader audience (national and international).

6.3.10Improvement of the ATM methodology

Companies looking to upgrade waste into a co-product should focus their efforts into developing a product that serves their market segment – as a way to diversify their product portfolio. Taking this approach will enable companies to learn more about their current customers and the way they use their products.

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