NRC Annual Congress & Expo: Beyond Tradition

When traditional markets are at capacity or inaccessible, recyclers have to look for new outlets for their material.

“Things like metal and paper have pretty much taken care of themselves,” said Timothy Breneisen, of the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center of Middletown, Pa., who addressed attendees of a session entitled “New Uses for Traditional Material: Promoting Recycling Market Development,” at the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) Annual Congress & Expo held recently in Pittsburgh. Breneisen said other materials, like triple-mix glass and tires, can be more problematic when it comes to finding end markets if traditional uses are not available.

“Obviously, the best use for glass is back into another container,” said Robert Bylone, also of the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center. However, if a recycler does not have cost-efficient access to a container end market, he does have reasonable alternatives to consider. Bylone discussed the use of recycled glass as a blasting agent as a possible end market for the material. Recycled glass can be used as a substitute for slag or sand in blasting applications, he said. Unlike the container market, there are no color restrictions for using glass as a blasting abrasive, Bylone said. In addition, the material can be used at lower operating pressures than its virgin counterparts, which can lead to lower operating costs for end users.

Breneisen added that triple-mix glass can also be used in the construction of onlot septic systems as an alternative to sand or aggregate. Each system uses approximately 150 tons of aggregate material, he said. Recycled glass can actually be a preferable alternative because it is a more uniform material and does not clump. He added that triple-mix glass can cost up to 67 percent less than natural sand in some regions.

Tire recyclers are often faced with the need to expand market development for their material, according to Michael Blumenthal of the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA). While tire derived fuel (TDF) and civil engineering are more common applications for recycled rubber, Blumenthal said ground tire rubber applications are among the highest value. He added that these markets are also expanding at rates of 15 to 20 percent per year.

This material is often used for artificial turf and playground rubber, Blumenthal said. However, questions have been raised over possible toxicity, which has made marketing the material challenging, he added. “Perception can become reality, and a lot of concerns are being raised,” he said. According to Blumenthal, while studies have shown that the material is safe, it has been impacted by allegations of hazards. Providing accurate information is key to developing the market, he added. “Everybody wants tires to go to the higher-end markets,” he said. “Information is key to success, and risk communication is critical.”

The NRC Annual Congress & Expo was held Sept. 22-24 in Pittsburgh. More information is available at www.nrc.recycle.org.