ISSN:
1573-2932
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
Notes:
Abstract Economics, as well as environmental considerations, are giving a new impetus to resource recovery and recycling. while scrap steel cans have been magnetically separated from municipal solid waste systems for many years, recent sharp increases in the price of steel scrap are making it economical to mine existing landfills for ferrous metal. Rapidly escalating fuel costs coupled with fuel shortages and diminishing readily accessible landfill sites are influencing a growing number of communities to burn solid waste as a fuel. At least 30 such systems — using a variety of techniques — are in operation or the construction or planning stages. Almost every one of these systems calls for the removal of steel cans for economic, environmental or fuel efficiency reasons. A number of these garbage-to-energy systems also involve the salvage of other non-combustible materials. As a result of an on-going research program sponsored by American Iron and Steel Institute an additional market for scrap steel cans may soon join the four traditional markets for this type of scrap. Successful tests have been conducted in iron foundries using scrap cans recovered from municipal solid waste. The more than 2000 foundries located throughout the country put most urban areas within easy shipping distance of these new markets for scrap steel cans. In addition, the four existing markets for reclaimed steel cans: steel mills; copper mining, which uses can scrap as precipitation iron in a process that recovers copper fiom low grade ore; detinning plants which recover both the steel and its tin coating for recycling; and ferroalloy plants all have increased interest in this product. In order to serve the markets effectively and obtain the best prices for their product — scrap steel cans — municipalities must be aware of the different specifications that each market has.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00160442
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