ARI Technologies Inks Deal with Irish Firm

ARI Technologies, Inc., Kent, Wash., signed an agreement with Irish Environmental Processes, Ltd. of Dublin, Ireland to design, fabricate, assemble, test and install a system in Ireland that will recycle asbestos into non-hazardous, asbestos-free construction aggregate. ARI licensed IEP to become the owner/operator of the system in Ireland.

The new system will be the first such installation in Europe and will convert a toxic, typically bulky waste into a usable product. This option is economical and ecologically preferable to dumping waste into increasingly expensive landfills where there is a risk of future exposure to humans and the environment. ARI will build and test the new system in the United States then ship it to Ireland where it will be assembled and commissioned to assure compliance with all Irish regulatory requirements.

Dale Timmons, president of ARI, says the system has already been approved and permitted by the EPA. The company is presently operating a system in Tacoma, Wash.

ARI owns the patented, EPA permitted, high-temperature process that destroys asbestos through mineralogical conversion. The process results in 100 percent destruction of asbestos and produces a product that is inert, non-toxic, unregulated, and suitable for construction applications.

The technology is also being applied to other hazardous wastes and is permitted by the EPA to treat PCBs. The technology is also effective for immobilisation of metals and radionuclides in certain wastes.

While the company is in discussions with the U.S. Military about the possibility of using the system in the demolition of some military facilities, Timmons feels that a significant opportunity exists in Europe due to more stringent regulations in regards to disposal, as well as the limited landfill space available.