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trends & updates

13recyclinginternational.com | January/February | 2020

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CHT_Anz_Recycling_205x132_191203.indd 1 03.12.19 13:13

can battery giant get to 50% recycled content?
swedish battery firm northvolt plans to combine
mass production with recycling and the greater use of
recycled materials. The company, managed by former
Tesla manager Peter Carlsson, has created its ‘Revolt’
recycling programme to achieve the goal.
As a first step, it is building a pilot plant at the Northvolt
Labs site in Västerås which is scheduled to go into oper-
ation early next year – with an initial annual recycling
capacity of 100 tonnes, handling NMC and NCA lithium-
ion types.
Northvolt is also due to commission a large recycling
plant at Skellefteå, where its main battery cell factory is
located, in 2022. The aim is to recycle around 25 000
tonnes of cells a year.
Ceo Carlsson says both projects will help realise
Northvolt’s ambition to use at least 50% of recycled
materials in new cells by 2030. The EU’s EIT InnoEnergy
has invested EUR 5.8 million in the Revolt programme.
‘The pilot plant will build on work undertaken over the
last two years and provide us the necessary tools to take
us to the next level – from research laboratories into the
real world,’ comments Emma Nehrenheim, Northvolt’s

chief environmental
officer. She points
out the innovative
hydrometallurgical
treatment was tested
and enhanced in
close collaboration
with researchers at
Chalmers University
of Technology in
Gothenburg. This
process extracts valu-
able battery metals
such as lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt.
‘Recycling batteries at end-of-life is critical to delivering
a comprehensive model for sustainable lithium-ion bat-
teries,’ Carlsson argues. ‘With this programme,
Northvolt will be able to recover valuable materials from
cells and return them to manufacturing flows. Recycling
will reduce the need for mining raw materials, improve
security of supply and lower the environmental footprint
of Northvolt cells by reducing mining-related emissions.’

shredders maKe the world go round
shredder special for the second issue of next year. And, of course,
we want to include as much industry input as we can.
Do you want to give your expert opinion regarding technology
trends? Do you want to share an update about new orders or newly
installed equipment? Let us know – and become part of the story.

‘carrie’ automates compressor recycling
E-scrap recycler Environcom has
installed an automated dismantling
facility for compressors from refriger-
ators and other cooling appliances,
said to be only the second of its kind
in Europe, at its site in Grantham,
UK.
The machine, known as ‘Carrie’
(Compressor Automated Removal
and Recycling Equipment), will pro-

cess around 10 000 compressors every week. This is expected to generate up to
seven tonnes of copper and 60 tonnes of steel weekly, to be returned into man-
ufacturing and reduce the need for virgin raw materials.
The Grantham site employs more than 200 and processes fridges as well as
washing machines, dryers, cookers, kettles, toasters and TVs. It also refurbishes
white goods for charity and retail partners.
Environcom says Carrie has the advantage of being fully automated and operat-
ing within a controlled environment, achieving the highest standards for envi-
ronmental control and employee health and safety.
The investment was made possible by support from REPIC, a not-for-profit com-
pany established in 2004 by leading companies in the electrical and electronics
industry to meet their producer obligations under the WEEE Directive.
‘Ensuring that we have safe and efficient compressor dismantling process right
here in the UK is crucial in the drive towards a more circular economy,’ says Cris
Stephenson, Environcom ceo.
Louise Grantham, REPIC finance director, adds: ‘We are extremely proud to be
involved in this project, which sees the UK pioneer a more safe, efficient and
effective solution to compressor dismantling in the UK. We look forward to see-
ing the positive benefits which Carrie will have on the industry.’

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