German shredder operators await emission targets

The Düsseldorf, Germany-based Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Stahlrecycling und Entsorgungsunternehmen (BDSV) scrap recycling association has reported an amendment to Germany’s Technical Instructions on Air (TA Luft) that could affect auto shredder operators was not finalized in the last legislative period of the current German Bundestag (legislature).

The progress of the amendment to the TA Luft is being watched by the BDSV “with a critical eye,” says the group. “As before, some important points, which are now reflected in the new draft, are rejected by the BDSV,” writes the group in a Sept. 3 email. The association says it “does not consider the regulation of complete enclosure and exhaust air cleaning in flame cutting processes provided for in the new TA Luft to be sustainable.”

As a result of such tightening, writes BDSV, “Companies would be faced with considerable cost burdens without significant environmental benefits becoming apparent.”

Regarding auto shredder emissions, BDSV says TA Luft is going beyond the target limit values for Europe required in the BREF (Best Available Technique Reference Document) regarding dust levels, carbon emissions and limits for dioxins, furans and PCBs. “The BDSV sees the danger of a strong disadvantage of the German steel recycling industry in the European comparison,” writes the organization.

The new draft also requires that in the event of a malfunction of the emission control system, an automatic shutdown of the entire shredder should take place. However, since the sudden braking of a shredder motor can lead to damage to the system, the BDSV “reiterates that the interruption of the feeding of the feed material achieves the same effect.”

“It is important that the TA Luft remains feasible for recycling companies,” says BDSV Chief Executive Rainer Cosson. “The German steel recycling industry must not be neglected in the European and international context.”