Germany’s largest aerosol recycler expands its facility in Bramsche with cutting-edge technology from Canada
Over the last three years, REMONDIS has invested heavily in further improving its aerosol recycling system at its Industrial Recycling Centre in Bramsche. The new facility – known as “HAZPAK” – is now fully operational. It is the most modern plant of its kind in Germany and is officially being opened on 01 July 2016.
Approx. 80,000 tonnes of aerosol cans are produced in Germany every year but a mere 10% of these are professionally recycled to minimise the potential danger they pose to humans and the environment and to maximise materials recycling. Around 60% percent of these end up at RESPRAY making it the biggest aerosol recycler in Germany. The company is looking to further extend its position on the market and is officially opening the most efficient and most modern aerosol recycling facility at its plant in Bramsche on 01 July. RESPRAY will, therefore, now be able to process 6,500t of full, partially full and empty aerosol cans generated by industrial and commercial businesses every year. RESPRAY’s new HAZPAK facility not only means that it can process greater quantities of aerosols. By investing in better technology, the company can now recover far more materials for recycling: a compressor, for example, liquefies the propellant gas so it can be sent on and used as a source of energy. Any residue liquid in the cans is extracted and thermally treated. Moreover, all metals are automatically washed and compacted into briquettes. Tinplate and aluminium can then be recovered from these so they can be returned to production cycles.
There is a very good reason why the Canadian manufacturers named this special type of facility HAZPAK. An abbreviation of ‘hazardous packaging’‚ HAZPAK is the perfect name as aerosols are classified as hazardous waste. It can be extremely dangerous for consumers to dispose of their old aerosol cans as the propellant gases (propane, butane and dimethyl ether) are highly inflammable and can cause an explosion if they come into contact with oxygen. As aerosol cans are never completely empty nor fully depressurised, they must, by law, be transported in special container systems and sent for professional recycling/disposal. RESPRAY has reacted to these legislation requirements by developing a special container system that carefully binds liquids and captures and removes any propellants that may be released.
