Opportunities in hazardous waste management that you should know about

As sustainability requirements increase in the manufacturing industry, we must seek new solutions together. Companies that want to be at the forefront of sustainability work aim for zero waste - meaning that none of their production waste is sent for landfill.  In order to reach that goal, we need to question how we are currently working.

– Without doubt, some substances must be safely destroyed. However, other hazardous waste can actually become a resource and be used again - oil waste, solvents and glycol, for example. At our facilities, and through our network of over 100 partners throughout Europe, we find solutions that lead to increased reuse and recycling. We ensure that hazardous waste is moved up the waste hierarchy and make your business more sustainable. Come with your challenges and let’s see what we can accomplish, says Jan-Erik Andersson.

He highlights one example - A new manufacturing customer that uses large quantities of solvent in their production process. The waste was incinerated, until Stena Recycling found a considerably more sustainable alternative involving a partner in Germany. After a thorough purification process, the solvent is so clean that it can be sold and reused.

Another example involves an industrial company whose processes generate large amounts of grinding and abrasive blasting dust. Although the waste consists largely of valuable metals, it is in such fine particles that it cannot be recycled by regular methods. In the past, the waste was sent for landfill and the metal content lost.

– Again, thanks to our experience, close cooperation with our customers and extensive network of partners, we could offer a solution that means 75 percent of the waste can now be recycled. We have raised this material up the waste hierarchy - from landfill to material recycling. It has also significantly reduced costs for the customer, says Jan-Erik Andersson.

One pressing issue in hazardous waste management is the treatment and recycling of batteries from electric vehicles. Over the next few years, volumes will increase rapidly as the first electric cars begin to be scrapped. Re-useable materials and other content must be handled in a responsible manner.

– In this respect, we are also leading the way, thanks to our network, expertise and close collaboration with the automotive industry and a number of universities. We always seek to offer our customers attractive, sustainable solutions that extend the life span of materials through reuse or maximized, environmentally sound recycling, says Jan-Erik Andersson.