Covanta Tartech Begins Metal Recycling Operation in Massachusetts

Covanta Tartech LLC, a joint venture between Morristown, N.J.-based Covanta Energy Corp. and Germany-based Tartech eco industries AG, has announced the start of a metals recovery and recycling system at an ash monofill in Peabody, Mass.

Originally announced in September 2012, the Covanta Tartech joint venture uses a proprietary and highly specialized technology to recycle metals from ash that remains from the energy-from-waste process, according to the company. The Peabody installation is the first under the partnership. The companies say Covanta Tartech is expected to recover thousands of tons of metal from the Peabody ash monofill.

“Massachusetts is a national leader when it comes to technological innovation in recycling and waste reduction efforts, and the recovery of valuable metals from the combustion process will help to further shrink the waste stream and free-up landfill capacity,” says Kenneth Kimmell, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP). “I am pleased that our state will host a promising new technology and I look forward to observing the results.”

“We are thrilled to get this innovative project with our partner Tartech underway,” says Covanta Chief Operating Officer Seth Myones. “Recovering metals for recycling from ash monofills provides a myriad of benefits for the environment and the economy. This project will reduce greenhouse gases, save energy and return valuable natural resources back into use.”

“I couldn’t think of a project that suits an advanced environmentally conscious society better,” says Alexander Graf von Kalckreuth, chief executive officer of Tartech eco industries AG. “Together we are taking one step further to creating an economy that conserves all of its important resources.”

“I am pleased to support Covanta Tartech’s innovative recycling project in the City of Peabody,” says Peabody Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt Jr. “Innovative projects like these lead to the creation of new, good-paying jobs and opportunities for revenue that will benefit the City of Peabody for years to come.”

In 2012, Covanta says its energy from waste (EfW) facilities in North America recovered more than 415,000 tons of ferrous and more than 16,000 tons of nonferrous metal for recycling – the equivalent amount of steel and aluminum needed to build five Golden Gate Bridges and produce over 1 billion aluminum beverage cans. With new projects like the facility in Peabody, Covanta says it will recover even more metal that was previously unrecoverable at efw facilities and will reduce the volume of material being deposited in ash monofills.

Covanta says its current metals recycling efforts prevent more than 800,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions anually. For every truckload of metal recovered from the monofill metals recovery process, an additional 70 tons of CO₂ will be avoided, which is the equivalent to pulling 12 cars off the road for a year.