RECYCLING INFORMATION

Nearly every industrial process, from manufacturing consumer goods to generating energy, produces different types of by-products, many of which are usable materials. Similar to municipal solid wastes, such as cardboard, newspapers, and beverage containers, these industrial materials are also valuable commodities that can be recycled.

The beneficial use of industrial materials is a key part of EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) effort. Through an SMM approach, the EPA is helping change the way our society protects the environment and conserves resources for future generations.

Building on the familiar concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, SMM is a systems approach that seeks to reduce materials use and their associated environmental impacts over their entire life cycle, starting with extraction of natural resources and product design and ending with decisions on recycling or final disposal. This approach helps to identify waste materials, such as industrial materials as commodities that can be utilized to grow key industries and associated jobs. As a commodity product, these materials will help the U.S. from draining virgin resources, including fossils fuels, minerals and precious metals.


An Overview of the Recycling Process

Industrial materials recycling, also referred to as beneficial use, means reusing or recycling byproduct materials generated from industrial processes in an environmentally responsible manner. Thousands of manufacturing and industrial processes and electric utility generators create hundreds of millions of tons of nonhazardous industrial materials that are often wasted. These materials can often be used as substitutes for raw materials in the manufacture of consumer products, roads, bridges, buildings, and other construction projects.

Nonhazardous industrial materials, such as coal ash, foundry sand, construction and demolition materials, slags, and gypsum, are valuable by-products of industrial processes. Each material may be recycled or reused in a variety of diverse applications. These materials have many of the same chemical and physical properties as the virgin materials they replace — they can even improve the quality of a product. For example, the use of coal fly ash can enhance the strength and durability of concrete. Putting these commodities into productive use saves resources and energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes to a sustainable future.

Recycling Process


Industrial materials recycling
  • Preserves our natural resources by decreasing the demand for virgin materials;
  • Conserves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions through decreasing the demand for products made from energy intensive manufacturing processes; and
  • Saves money by decreasing disposal costs for the generator and decreasing materials costs for end users.

Examples of practical recycling applications
  • Concrete and asphalt crushed and used as an aggregate in pavements or as structural fill;
  • Coal fly ash, slag, and spent foundry sand recycled in concrete, road embankments, and flowable fill
  • Coal ash used in the manufacture of cement and ceiling tiles; and
  • Flue gas desulfurization gypsum, foundry sand, and pulp and paper byproducts used in manufactured soil and agricultural amendments.

Solutions Case Studies

ASGCO® Solves Chronic Spillage and Belt Tracking Problems at Large US Waste Recycling Center.

Objective: Persistent belt mistracking at this waste-to-energy recycling facility was causing consistent and problematic spillage and belt damage. These issues lead to safety concerns from falling material, as well as the need for constant housekeeping, severely impacting employee morale. Continual…

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Objective: Persistent belt mistracking at this waste-to-energy recycling facility was causing
consistent and problematic spillage and belt damage. These issues lead to safety concerns
from falling material, as well as the need for constant housekeeping, severely impacting
employee morale. Continual belt mistracking also lead to premature belt failure and costly
repair and downtime.

Challenge: Persistent belt mistracking at this waste-to-energy recycling facility was causing consistent and problematic spillage and belt damage. These issues lead to safety concerns from falling material, as well as the need for constant housekeeping, severely impacting employee morale. Continual belt mistracking also lead to premature belt failure and costly repair and downtime.

Waste to Energy Facility_Flat Return Tru-Trainer & Dura-Sleeve Case Study - EG

Solution: Upon completing a thorough conveyor inspection, ASGCO® technicians were able
to identify several areas for improvement.  Existing rubber disc return idlers were replaced with ASGCO® Dura-
Sleeve™ Return idlers and an ASGCO® Tru-Trainer® Flat Return idler was strategically located between the
head & tail pulley to insure the belt stays centered on the return idlers.  This combination ensured that the belt
would remain centered under the load zone and throughout its travel, eliminating spillage, premature belt wear
& conveyor shutdown.  ASGCO® Safe-Guard® Return Idler Guards were installed around each return idler
to further ensure that maximum safety standards were met.

Results: Once all of the Dura-Sleeve™ Urethane Return Idlers were replaced and centered, the ASGCO®
Tru-Trainer® was installed, and fine-tuned for maximum performance.  The belt no longer gets snagged or
bounces across the rubber disc returns, and any minor belt mistracking is being corrected by the Tru-Trainer®.
Weather, wind and material loading were all factors in resolving these issues. The belt operates much
more efficiently, spillage has been virtually eliminated, and the lifespan of the belt will increase dramatically.
This plant now experiences much less downtime, requires far less clean up and promotes a much safer working
environment for its employees.

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Help Recycling Company Become More Efficient

Objective: To remove the sticky carry-back from the conveyor belt. Challenge: Co-mingled materials traveling together along the conveyor to a sorting facility would constantly leave behind sticky deposits that would accumulate, requiring costly downtime and maintenance, especially on the return idlers…

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Objective: To remove the sticky carry-back from the conveyor belt.

Challenge: Co-mingled materials traveling together along the conveyor to a sorting facility
would constantly leave behind sticky deposits that would accumulate, requiring costly
downtime and maintenance, especially on the return idlers and belt.

ASGCO Razor-Back Removes Sticky Carry-Back from Recycling Plant Conveyors - JSr

Solution: After surveying the conveyor system ASGCO® recommended installing a Razor-Back® secondary belt
cleaning system.  The Razor-Back® system can be installed typically were the conveyor belt leaves the head pulley
on the return side of the conveyor belt.  Due to the advanced design of the independent carbide blades on
this system, the sticky residue was removed from the return side of the system before it could come in contact with
the return idlers. This system virtually eliminated the carry-back problem and greatly reduced both maintenance
costs and downtime.

Results: As illustrated in the photos above, it’s clear that the material residue is being effectively removed from
the belt, and diminishing the possibility of fouling return idlers. The customer was so thoroughly impressed
with the performance of the Razor-Back® secondary system that they will soon be adding additional systems to
their plant.

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