Page 50 from: Summer issue 2018
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PLUTONIUM FUEL RECYCLING VENTURE THE
ONLY ‘REALISTIC METHOD’ FOR JAPAN
Japan currently has a large plutonium stockpile, sparking interna-
tional debate as to what will happen with the high-risk material.
The estimated 47 tonnes of plutonium could arguebly be used to
create 6000 atomic bombs. Now the Japan Atomic Energy
Commission has addressed these concerns, stating that the plutoni-
um stockpile will be ‘reduced over the long term’ by a nuclear
power generation method utilising fuel recycling.
Japan’s plan to recycle 47 tonnes of plutonium during a yet undis-
closed period of time will be discussed by cabinet members today,
The Financial Times has reported. Plutonium is the source of about
one third of energy produced at nuclear power plants, the Japan
Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) has pointed out. The new ener-
gy plan states that nuclear energy should account for up to 22% of
Japan’s power generation by fiscal 2030. Besides, around 24% of
energy will be powered by renewable sources.
Addressing the plutonium issue in a fiscal 2017 the white paper,
government and JAEC officials have stated that the plutonium-ther-
mal power generation method, in which plutonium-uranium mixed
oxide fuel is burned at normal reactors, is ‘the only realistic meth-
od’ to reduce the nation’s stockpile.
It is rumored that the plutonium will be recycled at the Rokkasho
nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, which is still under construction in
Aomori Prefecture. The modern-day site is scheduled to be com-
pleted in the first half of fiscal year 2021.
In a conventional nuclear reactor, one kilogram of Plutonium-239,
which powers deep space missions, can produce enough heat to
generate nearly 8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity.
The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan, which coor-
dinates the operations of Japan’s 10 electric power companies, has
informed JAEC officials that it will aim to introduce the plutonium-
thermal power generation method in 16 to 18 reactors.
JAEC reports that it will soon announce its new policies that will
include limiting the amount of extracted plutonium to what can be
consumed, as well as decreasing the amount of plutonium stored
overseas. ‘We need to understand and try to explain our special sit-
uation, in which we possess plutonium despite being a non-nuclear-
weapon state,’ comments JAEC chairman Yoshiaki Oka. He realises
there are a lot of eyes on Japan owing tot he 2011 Fukushima
disaster.
‘ROBUST’ GLASS RECYCLING MARKET HAS
BRIGHT FUTURE
Glass recycling is a robust niche market that will be worth more
than US$ 4.4 billion (EUR 3.75 billion) by 2025, new data by Global
Market Insights has indicated.
Based on revenue, clear cullet is likely to account for around 60% of
the global recycled glass market in 2025. Clear cullet is manufac-
tured generally from soda, beer and soft drink bottles, flat glass, as
well as food packaging. The current recycling rates for glass bottles
are between 50% to 80%, partly because of the significantly lower
temperatures needed to melt recycled cullet compared to virgin
cullet.
As an example, Sweden’s recycled glass market is likely to generate
revenue of around US$ 6.9 million (EUR 5.8 million) in 2025 as the
government has provided various subsidies to increase the recy-
cling rate of glass products. According to Avfall Sverige, the
Swedish recycling and waste management association, the country
is aiming for zero waste by the end of 2020.
Two main markets driving glass recycling are the alcohol industry
and the pharmaceutical industry due to the high volume of glass
packaging used.
‘CAPITAL OF DREAMS’ WELCOMES
RECYCLING FACILITY SHAKE-UP
The US company RePower South will modernise and operate a
materials recovery facility (MRF) in Montgomery, Alabama.
Some US$12 million will be invested in the newly named City of
Montgomery Recycling and Recovery Facility.
RePower South has partnered with Bulk Handling Systems
(BHS) and Loesche Energy Systems to revamp the existing recy-
cling system to also produce a low carbon renewable fuel that
will be sold to industry, cement, and utility customers to replace
coal in the production process.
The system will process 45 tonnes per hour of mixed scrap such
as cardboard, metals, paper, plastics and produce fuel. New
equipment to be installed includes a primary reducer, two opti-
cal sorters for fuel cleanup, a fuel system reducer and and a
baler. In total, the system features ten optical sorters, ‘ensuring
the positive recovery of fiber and containers and removal of
contamination from fuel.
‘Our platform enables greater recycling recovery and does so
across the entire Montgomery waste stream,’ comments RPS
Corporate Development Director Scott Montgomery. The city’s
Mayor Todd Strange says: ‘We call our city the Capital of
Dreams, and today is yet another milestone fulfilling that prom-
ise.’
Plastic Recycling Equipment
Please contact Ivan at [email protected]
Complete Herbold wash line including:
conveyors, blowers, granulators, dryers, friction washers,
turbo washers, pumps, cyclones, vibrating screens,
mechanical dryers, thermal dryers, pressing screws,
safety devices, vibration sensors, support structures,
maintenance platforms, electronic control panels, wiring,
water treatment plant, etc. Motivated Seller.
Also available, Redwave plastics sorting equipment.
PLASTIC BOTTLE RECYCLING RECORD FOR
SOUTH AFRICA
The South African
plastics industry recy-
cled a record 2.15
billion polyethylene
terephthalate (PET)
plastic bottles in
2017, according to
industry body
PETCO. This is seen
as being an impressive result during tough trading conditions and a
13% fall in the overall PET market.
The 93 235 tonnes of collected plastic bottles exceeded South
Africa’s annual recycling target of 58% for 2017, hitting a recycling
rate of 65%, which echoes international standards.
Additionally, more than 64 000 jobs were created for waste pickers,
collectors and recyclers, while saving 578 000 cubic metres of land-
fill space and 139 000 tonnes of carbon in the process.
PETCO ceo Cheri Scholtz was ‘thrilled’ with the latest figures, which
represent a 3% year-on-year increase in tonnage (versus 90 749
tonnes in 2016). She points out that the record was achieved
against a backdrop of the political and economic instability, volatile
exchange rates and industrial action.
‘Through the remarkable network of people, companies and organ-
isations we work with, 5.9 million PET bottles were collected for
recycling across South Africa every day during 2017, creating thou-
sands of income-generating opportunities for small and micro-col-
lectors, and changing their lives and those of their families in
immeasurable ways,’ Scholtz said.
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