OK, I can give some info:
- aluminium and alloys of all sorts is the most profitable recycling
material and scrap is even quoted on the London Metal Exchange, it is so
valuable.
- PET bottles are also very valuable and are mostly exported to China
for making fibres (ropes, carpets, polyester fabrics, polyester "down"
for anoraks etc., cheap plastic articles)
- other SORTED plastics, esp. HDPE, are also good money spinners.
- other non-ferrous metals (stainless steel, copper, brass, lead etc.)
are profitable and justify the cost of sorting
- paper, cardboard etc. are marginally profitable
- ferrous metals are marginally profitable and have the advantage of
easy automatic sorting
- glass is tricky. If the householder sorts bottles by colour, then 15%
can be economically added to the melt for similar colour bottles,
provided that transport costs are not excessive. Many bottles are made
today in the Far East and transport of scrap there is not economical.
However, 10% powdered glass can be added to the raw mix for making
cement. Roughly broken glass can be added to the aggregate for concrete
and asphalt mixes, colour no object. The only economical gain in using
glass for cement/concrete is a reduction of landfill costs.
However, recycling materials does require discipline, as well as the
infrastructure.
Brian
Charles Dolci wrote:
> Pratap:
>
> I don't doubt that such enterprises can be profitable, but let's look
> at how they make their money.
> For example, let's say a recycler has operating costs of $100 dollars a
> ton for his output. He derives $90 per ton in revenues from selling that
> output to his customers. The government gives him a subsidy of $15 per
> ton. Voila - a $5 per ton profit. A nice profitable business, as long as
> you can con the taxpayers (who in all likelihood are totally unaware of
> the fact that they are subsidizing this enterprise) into supporting this.
>
> I have never said that recycling is not or cannot be profitable or
> environmentally sound. My issue with those who make blanket statements
> about all recycling being good for business and good for the
> environment. My position has always been that for some commodities in
> some places recycling makes sense, for other commodities at other places
> it make no sense.
>
> Chuck
>
>
>
> Pratap Singh wrote:
>
>> Chuck,
>>
>> Private businesses do not continue to run, if they do not make money
>> or see
>> money in the future operations. Also it is not true that they will not
>> charge fees for waste collection, if they are making money from the
>> waste.
>>
>> By the way, there is money in recycling. Here is the example:
>>
>> I collect grass clippings, and fallen leaves at every mowing of the yard
>> (about 5-6 cubic feet every month). Add to it kitchen waste and put in
>> compost pile (a total of 80-100 cubic feet per year). At the end of the
>> year, it makes about 40-45 cubic feet of rich, black compost good for the
>> garden and flower beds. The total value returned is about $ 50.00 at the
>> prevailing rates (2 cubic foot bag at $ 2.99) after deducting water
>> cost ($
>> 10.00) added to the pile to keep it moist during decomposition. In
>> addition
>> it saves $$ by reducing waste transport cost, and landfill volume
>> reduction
>> thereby increasing its life span.
>>
>> This is just a small example. Similar savings may be computed (estimated)
>> for paper, glass, and aluminum recycling. Thanks
>>
>>
>> pratap singh
>> ____________________________________
>> Tel/Fax: 512-255-6820; Cell: 512-663-8903
>> www.rampinc.com ; EMail: [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
--
http://www.cypenv.org Cyprus environment/energy
http://www.cypenv.org/worldenv World environment/energy
http://www.cypenv.org/weather Cyprus weather
http://www.cypenv.org/smf/index.php Environment/energy forums
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cypnature/ Cyprus nature forum
|
