MGG opens Austria’s largest e-scrap shredder

Austria – The Central and Eastern European end-of-life vehicle and e-scrap recycling company, Müller-Guttenbrunn Group (MGG), has unveiled what it claims is the ‘largest e-scrap shredder in Austria’.

The equipment, produced by German manufacturer Albert Hoffmann, boasts an annual capacity of more than 80 000 tonnes. It will treat material that has been pre-processed by an in-house smasher or delivered de-polluted from external sources.

MGG states the new machine would efficiently recover ferrous material to high specification, in terms of both size distribution and low contaminant levels, as well as the ‘highest possible recovery rates’ of copper and precious metals. The company adds that a significantly improved quality of plastics in the separated waste stream would allow further recycling by MBA Polymers Austria, of which MGG is a co-owner.

Christian Müller-Guttenbrunn, MGG ceo and owner, has commented that similar big investments in shredding and recovery techniques are needed to ‘attract more material’ and help Austria achieve its WEEE recycling goals.

Austria’s e-scrap figures

MGG says it recognises the importance of meeting EU targets on e-scrap as volumes increase. Quoting figures from the WEEE Coordination Office Austria, the company notes that in 2011, Austria collected 74 770 tonnes of e-scrap, and a similar figure last year.

During the 2006-2011 period, the data showed that an average of 16 200 tonnes of screens and displays were collected per year, 81% of the total scrapped. Cooling and freezing appliances (13 700 tonnes annually) were in second place, with an average 59% collection rate.

Small electronic devices make up a fast-growing proportion of Austrian e-scrap, but the 23 670 tonnes collected in 2011 represented only 42% of the quantity discarded.

For more information, visit: www.mueller-guttenbrunn.at