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John Nicholson

Circulating Winds – Recycling Solutions Sought for Turbine Blades

Written by , Baker McKenzie

The exponential growth of both on and off-shore wind energy is truly an environmental good news story of the past 25 years.   It is estimated that there is no less than 600 gigawatts of wind energy capacity currently installed worldwide and the European Commission, in their long-term de-carbonization strategy to 2050, estimates that wind alone could provide 50% of the EU’s electricity demand by 2050.

But with as much as 6 million tons of composite wind turbine material in use in the wind industry globally and tens of thousands of tons of blades due for obsolescence in the near future without a cost-effective recycling / recovery plan, the environmental, commercial and regulatory challenge is as visible as a hillside wind farm.

Turbine Blades and Existing Composite Recycling – a Mismatch?

It would be inaccurate to portray the wind industry as having no sustainable materials pathway.   In fact, it is estimated that as much as 85 to 90% of wind turbines’ total mass can be recycled, including the foundation, tower and components in the nacelle.

Turbine blades are, however, more challenging to recycle due to the composite materials used in their production – specifically, rigid fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites.  While various technologies exist that can be used to process FRP composites, they typically require end-of-life materials to be available by the inch and are ill-equipped to handle towering 90 meter blades.

These technologies also fail to preserve the value in the structural integrity and material profile of the end-of-life blades, thereby allowing turbine blade recycling to remain less than economically viable at scale.

What’s Currently Available for the Recovery of Composites?

The composite industries have arguably avoided some of the most intense pressure for circular economy solutions felt by other industries, such as electronics, plastics/packaging and textiles.    The current established practices for the treatment of end-of-life composites include:

  1. cement co-processing,
  2. mechanical grinding,
  3. thermal treatments (such as pyrolysis),
  4. thermo-chemical (solvolysis), or
  5. electro-mechanical (high voltage pulse fragmentation)

Cement co-processing is arguably the preferred technology for turbine blades at present but has not included the logistical and technological solutions for disassembling, collection, transportation, waste management and high value reintegration into secondary markets needed by the wind industry.   Further, no composite recycling platform can currently eliminate the bugbears plaguing these blade recovery efforts:  high investment costs, excessive transportation expenditures and high energy usage recycling.

With these challenges, the wind industry is also looking at reuse and repurposing as ways to best valorize and preserve the engineering and material composition feat which is a modern turbine blade.  But just who wants such a monstrosity?

The Global Search for Secondary Markets

In an act that truly speaks to the Age of Waste, the wind industry is openly and actively soliciting cross-sector partners in an effort to find secondary markets for end-of-life blades instead of continuing to quietly landfill the material.  WindEurope, for instance, has partnered with the composites and chemical industries in this quest and is looking for help with both legacy blades and future design improvements:

…the wind industry is actively looking for industries and sectors that can make use of the materials and equipment decommissioned from wind farms. And the wind industry wants to work with them to build capacities in wind turbine blade circularity, including through the development of new, more easily recyclable structural design and materials.

In other words, partnerships are being sought where the parties would, over time, jointly develop improved blade designs and material compositions to not only improve wind energy generation, but to better serve as feedstock for the partner industries.

Failure Will Lead to Compliance and Permitting Challenges

Finally, the urgency for a turbine blade recycling solution should not be understood as merely good public relations, or maybe the satisfaction of a self-imposed industry commitments around sustainability.   Instead, as has already been demonstrated in other sectors, including those with less enviable environment footprints, a failure to address the waste impacts of the wind energy industry will have broader consequences.

Increasingly, the permitting of wind energy projects, like other resource projects, requires a decommissioning plan created as of the time of initial permitting and such plan remains an active part of the generator’s compliance obligations throughout the life of the project.  A meaningful plan for the resource recovery of turbine blades will, in many countries, form part of the environmental application process.

And the range of waste management options for turbine blades is certainly narrowing. In Europe, for instance, France is imposing turbine blade recycling targets and many other EU countries have banned the landfilling of composites. Placeholder commitments and aspirational goals for turbine blade recycling will not be enough.

Industry’s long-term plan to invest in newer, more easily recyclable materials and designs for turbine blades is laudable.  The legacy equipment, however, cannot be orphaned in this transition to a circular wind energy economy.

About the Author

Jonathan D. Cocker heads Baker McKenzie’s Environmental Practice Group in Canada and is an active member of the firm’s Global Consumer Goods & Retail and Energy, Mining and Infrastructure groups. Mr. Cocker provides advice and representation to multinational companies on a variety of environmental and product compliance matters, including extended producer responsibilities, dangerous goods transportation, GHS, regulated wastes, consumer product and food safety, and contaminated lands matters.

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John Nicholson

Fun with Waste: Upcycling old clothes

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In a recent article in the Halifax Chronicle Herald, describes the upcycling efforts of Jess Gillis who is creating new redesigns of old clothes.  could be a fun way to upcycle some of her older pieces.  In the article, she is quoted, “Thrifting and upcycling is so useful when you’re looking for a unique piece for your wardrobe. Plus, you’re helping to reduce the waste that is produced by the fashion industry.”

In Canada, each household throws away approximately 100 pounds of clothing per year, contributing to the rapid filling of  landfills with textiles.  Many of textiles could have been repurposed.

“I am trying to do my part to be a more environmentally conscious person and the fashion industry is a major contributor to pollution,” she says. “It’s important to understand the environmental impact we cause with each decision we make as consumers. So, upcycling is a great way to be more sustainable and express yourself.”

 

 

 

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hazzmatt1

Montreal announces Composting Pilot Project at 22 Schools

The City of Montreal recently announced that is is embarking on a pilot project with 22 local elementary and secondary schools in which organics will be collected for composting. The pilot is part of the City’s efforts to be a zero waste community by 2020.

Pickup of compostable food waste will be phased in over the next year at participating schools. Compost collection will be expanded to all of the city’s more than 700 schools starting in 2025.

Recently, Montreal’s standing committee on water and the environment kicked off public consultations on the zero-waste policy. It calls for a 70-per-cent reduction in the waste that ends up in landfill by 2025 and an 85-per-cent reduction by 2030.

The city wants to decrease the amount of organic waste and recyclable materials Montrealers discard by 10 per cent by 2025 and by 20 per cent by 2030.

The compost will be collected from the schools on the same day it is picked up from homes in the neighbourhoods where the schools are located.

Public consultations on the zero waste plan will be held over four days between Jan. 9 and 16. Citizens or organizations who would like to express their views must register by next Wednesday, either online or by calling 514-872-3000. Written briefs may be submitted until Dec. 20 at [email protected]

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John Nicholson

Waste to Energy Market to attain US$32 billion by 2026

Transparency Market Research (TMR) recently issued a report the forecasts the global compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) to be 6.1% and the market to be worth $32 billion by 2026.

The TMR report, entitled Waste to Energy Market (Waste Type – Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Agricultural Waste; Technology – Thermochemical (Incineration, Others), Biochemical (Anaerobic Digestion, Others); Application – Electricity, Heat) – Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2018 – 2026, states that Europe was the largest market for WTE in 2017 with $7.5 billion (U.S.) in revenue.

The report discusses the drivers for WTE which includes the rising demand for energy coupled with deteriorating sources of coal and natural gas globally. The report further states the WTE is considered to generated lower greenhouse gases than landfilling, which has given it a boost as a waste management option.

The report states that there is a growing adoption of the waste to energy systems globally with European countries leading the way. The European market is predicted to retain its dominance in the overall market in the coming years.

The report notes that biogas production in the Europe is higher among others regions around the globe. Additionally, the governments of the European countries are focusing on encouraging the adoption of alternate technologies. Thus, they are implementing a few regulations on the use of fuel during certain energy generation. These factors are augmenting penetration of the technologies and in turn, are propelling growth of the global waste to energy market.

In Asia, the report states the rising importance of sustainable energy, rapid urbanization, and increasing consumption of energy are pushing growth of the waste to energy market in that region.

The report cautions that the market for WTE is likely to face challenges due to high initial cost required for technologies and surge in investments. Additionally, the low-profit-margin for initial few years is likely to restrain growth of the global WTE market. However, growing government subsidies on the energy generation through unconventional ways or from waste is likely to reduce negative effects on the market due to high initial investment. Lack of supporting policies across few developing or underdeveloped countries is posing as a challenge to the growth in the coming years.

Nonetheless, several projects implemented by governments and governmental bodies for converting WTE is likely to offer the most lucrative opportunities for growth over the forecast period.

The report notes that key players that are holding a substantial share in the global WTE market include Suez Environment S.A., Waste Management, Inc., Covanta, C& G Environmental Protection Holdings, and China Everbright International Limited.

About the Market Research Company

Transparency Market Research is a next-generation market intelligence provider, offering fact-based solutions to business leaders, consultants, and strategy professionals.

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John Nicholson

Europe Announces ban of Single Use Plastics and Extends Extended Producer Responsibility Programs

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The European Parliament recently agreed on the ambitious measures proposed by the European Commission to ban selected single-use products made of plastic as well as introduce extended producer responsibility (EPR) for new products.

The new rules are an attempt to lesson marine pollution by plastic and abandoned fishing gear and oxo-degradable plastics.

Once the rules are in place, cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, sticks for balloons that are made of plastic will be banned in the European Union (EU).

The new rules also ban cups, food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene and on all products made of oxo-degradable plastic. Oxo-degradable plastics are made of petroleum-based polymers(usually polyethylene (PE)) that contain additives (usually metal salts), which accelerate their degradation when exposed to heat and/or light. The argument for banning oxo-degradable plastics is that they are similar to conventional plasticmaterials but have artificial additives. They do not actually biodegrade but merely fragment into small pieces and potentially harm the environment and endanger recycling and composting operations.


While often confused with biodegradable plastics, oxo-degradables are a category unto themselves. They are neither a bioplastic nor a biodegradable plastic, but rather a conventional plastic mixed with an additive in order to imitate biodegredation.

The new rules include EPR schemes for cigarette filters and fishing gear.
Producers of cigarettes with filters (the filters are not biodegradable) will help cover the costs of waste management and clean-up. Producers of plastic fishing gear will be required to cover the costs of waste collection from port reception facilities and its transport and treatment. They will also cover the costs of awareness-raising measures.  Producers will also be given incentives to develop less polluting alternatives for these products

Single-use drinks containers made with plastic will only be allowed on the market if their caps and lids remain attached. Also, the diversion target for plastic bottles was set at 90% by 2025. One method to achieve the high diversion rate is deposit refund schemes.

The rules on Single-Use Plastics items and fishing gear, addressing the ten most found items on EU beaches place the EU at the forefront of the global fight against marine litter. They are part of the EU Plastics Strategy – the most comprehensive strategy in the world adopting a material-specific lifecycle approach with the vision and objectives to have all plastic packaging placed on the EU market as reusable or recyclable by 2030. The Single-Use Plastics Directive adopted by the European Parliament today is an essential element of the Commission’s Circular Economy Action Plan as it stimulates the production and use of sustainable alternatives that avoid marine litter.

Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, responsible for jobs, growth, investment and competitiveness, added: “Once implemented, the new rules will not only prevent plastic pollution, but also make the European Union the world leader in a more sustainable plastic policy. The European Parliament has played an essential role in laying the foundation for this transformation and in giving a chance to the industry to innovate, thus driving forward our circular economy.”

The Single-Use Plastics Directive voted on by the European Parliament today tackles directly marine litter thanks to a set of ambitious measures:

  • A ban on selected single-use products made of plastic for which alternatives exist on the market: cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, sticks for balloons, as well as cups, food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene and on all products made of oxo-degradable plastic.
  • Measures to reduce consumption of food containers and beverage cups made of plastic and specific marking and labelling of certain products.
  • Extended Producer Responsibility schemes covering the cost to clean-up litter, applied to products such as tobacco filters and fishing gear.
  • A 90% separate collection target for plastic bottles by 2029 (77% by 2025) and the introduction of design requirements to connect caps to bottles, as well as target to incorporate 25% of recycled plastic in PET bottles as from 2025 and 30% in all plastic bottles as from 2030.

The proposed Directive follows a similar approach to the successful 2015 Plastic Bags Directive, which brought about a rapid shift in consumer behavior. The EU claims that , when implemented, the new measures will bring about both environmental and economic benefits. The economic benefits claimed by the new rule implementation include €22 billion in avoidance of environmental damage by 2030 and €6.5 billion to consumers in savings in the form of reduced waste treatment by public authorities.

Next steps

Following this approval by the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers will finalise the formal adoption. This endorsement will be followed by the publication of the texts in the Official Journal of the Union. The Member States will then have two years to transpose the legislation into their national law.

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John Nicholson

Consultations begin on Ontario Electronic Stewardship’s Wind-Up Plan

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The Ontario Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) is consulting with stakeholders and the public on Ontario Electronic Stewardship’s (OES) Wind-Up Plan for the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Program. Public comment on the 85-page OES Wind up Plan will be accepted by the RPRA until April 18th.

Background on the Ontario Electronic Stewardship

Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) is an Industry Funding Organization (IFO) designated to operate the waste diversion program for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) under the Waste Diversion Transition Act, 2016 (WDTA). Since its inception in 2009, the WEEE program has diverted over 67 million electronic devices or over 500,000 tonnes of waste electronics from Ontario landfills. The WEEE program promotes the re-use and refurbishment of waste electronics and ensures that the valuable resources found in waste electronics, that cannot be re-used, are processed and recycled in an environmentally responsible manner.

Why is OES being wound up?

In 2016 the Ontario legislature passed the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016 (RRCEA) which creates a new legislative framework for managing waste in Ontario. Current waste diversion programs and related IFOs, such as Ontario Electronic Stewardship, will be wound up subject to provisions under the WDTA. Under the RRCEA, producers will be responsible for the implementation of new waste diversion programs that must meet recycling targets and objectives established under that Act.

Under the WDTA wind up process IFOs are required to develop wind up plans in accordance with specified statutory requirements once directed to do so by the Minister. Subsection 14 (13) of the WDTA requires IFOs to consult with stewards, municipalities and other stakeholders affected by termination of the program in developing wind up plans. IFOs submit wind up plans to the Resource Recovery and Productivity Authority (RPRA) which reviews and approves the plan if it is consistent with the Minister’s direction and statutory requirements.

In February 2018, OES received direction from the former Minister of Environment and Climate Change to wind up the WEEE program by June 30, 2020. (Note: In July 2018 the Honourable Rod Phillips, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, assumed responsibility for administering the RRCEA and WDTA statutes.)

What’s Next in Ontario with respect to WEEE?

After wind up, electrical and electronic equipment will be managed under a new, mandatory individual producer responsibility (IPR) framework. This means that producers of electrical and electronic equipment will be responsible for ensuring their products and packaging are collected and reused or recycled at end-of-life. The RPRA is mandated by the Government of Ontario to oversee the wind up of Ontario’s current waste diversion programs and enforce IPR requirements.

Public Information and Feedback Sessions

The RPRA is hosting several sessions to present key elements of the plan for feedback and to answer any questions you may have. The sessions are open to all WEEE Program participants, municipalities, the public and other interested stakeholders.

The RPRA is encouraging all interested organizations and persons to attend to learn more about the wind-up, the new framework for electrical and electronic equipment.

The sessions consist of a presentation that will explore key aspects of OES’s proposed wind-up plan and there will be time for your questions. The Authority will also consult on OES’s revised projection for program surplus, which is based on information that was not available at the time of OES’s consultations.

The schedule for public consultations can be found in the table below.

LocationDate and TimeRegistration
WebinarThursday, March 21
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.		Register here
LondonFriday, March 22
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.		Register here
Ottawa (Kanata)Wednesday, April 3
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.		Register here
North BayThursday, April 4
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.		Register here
TorontoTuesday, April 9
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.		Register here
WebinarWednesday, April 10
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.		Register here

Feedback on the Wind-Up Plan is due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 18. You can provide feedback via email to [email protected].

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hazzmatt1

Using biosolids to revegetate inactive mine tailings

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Vale Canada (a global mining company with an integrated mine, mill, smelter, and refinery complex in operations Sudbury, Ontario) has been working with Terrapure Environmental (an industrial waste management company) to utilize biosolids on its main tailings area.

For over 100 years, tailings from the milling operation have been deposited in the Copper Cliff Central Tailings impoundment. The facility is still active, but approximately 1,300 hectares are inactive and need reclamation work.


The Big Nickel in Sudbury (Photo Credit: pizzodisevo)

Over the decades, Vale has had some success in revegetation of its tailings area, but there are still large areas of bare or sparsely vegetated tailings, which have led to wind-erosion-management challenges. To control dust, Vale uses agricultural equipment to cover the tailings with straw or hay, as well as a chemical dust suppressant. These practices are costly, and they have to be done continuously to maintain an appropriate cover at all times. In 2012, Vale decided its tailings needed a permanent vegetative cover—not just to suppress dust and reduce erosion, but to improve overall biodiversity. They entered into discussions with Terrapure Organics Solutions (formerly Terratec Environmental) to collaborate on a trial project to apply biosolids on the mine tailings.

In 2012, Vale decided its tailings needed a permanent vegetative cover—not just to suppress dust and reduce erosion, but to improve overall biodiversity. They entered into discussions with Terrapure Organics Solutions (formerly Terratec Environmental) to collaborate on a trial project to apply biosolids on the mine tailings.

THE CHALLENGE

The biggest challenge was forging a new path for this type of work. Applying biosolids to mine tailings had never been done before in Ontario. Just to get the right permits and approvals took about two years. Vale Canada and Terrapure worked closely with the Ontario Environment Ministry to ensure standards compliance. Some of this work included helping to determine what those standards should be. Terrapure was able to contribute to these discussions, leveraging decades of expertise in safe biosolids application to agricultural land. Once the Environmental Compliance Approval came in April 2014, the team had to figure out the best application method and proper amount to encourage vegetation, which meant a lot of testing and optimizing.

THE SOLUTION

At first, Terrapure mixed biosolids into the surface layer of the tailings. Over time, however, the team learned that applying biosolids to the surface, without mixing, allowed for greater rates of application and coverage at a lower cost.

Terrapure also had to experiment with the right tonnage per hectare. After seeding four trial plots with different amounts of biosolids coverage—20, 40, 60 and 80 dry tonnes/hectare—it was determined that 80 dry tonnes was best for seed germination. At the time, it was the maximum allowable application rate. By the end of 2014, approximately 25 hectares of tailings were amended. Where the biosolids were applied, there were impressive results. Wildlife that had not been seen feeding in the area in years started to return. In 2015, the Ontario Environment Ministry approved an increase in the biosolids application rate to a maximum of 150 dry tonnes/hectare, which was necessary for providing higher organic matter and nutrient levels, and for stabilizing the tailings’ pH levels. This approval also increased the cap on the amount of biosolids that could be delivered to the maximum application rate per hectare. To enhance the program even more, Terrapure and Vale partnered with the City of Greater Sudbury to blend leaf and yard waste with biosolids. By blending these materials, the mixture becomes virtually odourless, its nutrients are more balanced and it allows for a more diverse application.


Glen Watson, Vale’s superintendent of environment, decommissioning and reclamation, surrounded by lush vegetation covering part of the company’s Central Tailings Facility in Sudbury

THE RESULTS

As of 2018, Terrapure has successfully covered over 150 hectares of Vale’s tailings with municipal biosolids. Vegetative growth and wildlife are well established on all areas where the team applied organics. Just as importantly, this project has diverted more than 25,000 dry tonnes of valuable biosolids from becoming waste in the landfill. Following the success of the initial trial, the Environment Ministry widened the approval to include all areas of the inactive tailings and a portion of the active tailings. At the current application rate of 150 dry tonnes/hectare, Vale’s central tailings facility could potentially require another 195,000 dry tonnes of biosolids. That’s more than 30 years of biosolids utilization, at an annual rate of 6,000 dry tonnes of material. Needless to say, Vale is very pleased with the results, and the relationship is ongoing. In fact, the Vale team is evaluating other sites in the Sudbury area for this type of remediation, ensuring a long-term, environmentally sustainable rehabilitation program.

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hazzmatt1

Ski Slope on the roof the Copenhagen’s New WTE Facility

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The City of Copenhagen’s new waste-to-energy facility has quickly become a popular destination with the city’s residents as it has a 600 metre ski slope on its roof.

The idea of topping a municipal plant with an urban ski resort won a string of accolades for the Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). The park itself was designed by SLA Architects. Two years ago the architectural model went on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

In an interview with the Guardian, city resident Ole Fredslund said, “I live so close by that I could follow the development. I guess 90% of the focus is on the fact that there’s a skiing hill coming, so in a way it’s very clever. Everybody talks about the ski hill to be, not the waste plant to be.”


Photograph: Mads Claus Rasmussen/EPA

The entire WTE facility cost $840 million Canadian to construct. The facility sits on top of a plant that has been producing heating for homes since 1970. Work began on the facility in 2013.

Eventually, the entire ski run will be divided into three slopes with a green sliding synthetic surface, plus a recreational hiking area and an 80 meter (264 foot) climbing wall. Once the whole project is completed, the roof will contain ski slopes, green spaces and hiking trails. The slopes will have ski lifts to take people up to the top of the runs.

The innovative waste-to-energy plant can burn 31 tonnes of waste per hour while cutting emissions by 99.5%, which makes it capable of converting 360,000 tonnes of waste every year. Its total net energy efficiency of 107% is among the highest in the world for a waste-to-energy facility

The plant currently processes waste from 550,000 residents and 45,000 businesses and produces electricity and heating to approximately 150,000 households.

Babcock & Wilcox Vølund designed and built the facility. It is owned and operated by Amager Ressourcecenter (ARC), a corporation jointly owned by five Copenhagen-area municipalities.


Image courtesy of SLA Architects
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John Nicholson

Global Survey Results on Digital Transformation of the Waste Industry

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The results of a recent global survey indicate that the majority of companies in the waste & recycling industry give themselves a failing grade when it comes to the adoption of new technology. The survey, conducted by the AMCS Group polled municipalities and private sector companies across Europe and the US. The respondents included a significant number of organisations with more than 250 employees. More than half of respondents have more than 50 vehicles for waste collection.

The waste management industry is less than enthusiastic about the success of its digital transformation so far. This is especially true for the application of new technologies, with most companies giving themselves a failing grade, according to our survey respondents within municipalities and private sector companies across Europe and the US. 

Some 60% of the organisations surveyed gave themselves a grade of ‘unsatisfactory’ for their progress in the application of new technologies. Using the results of the research, AMCS developed the Waste Management Digital Transformation Model to help organisations take the next steps toward making the digital transformation a success.

More than 80% of participants believe that digital innovation is important for the success of the business. Outdated legacy IT systems, implementing paperless operations and a culture that is not open to change are seen as the biggest barriers. For the Digital Transformation Barometer 2018, AMCS designed an international survey to discover how successful companies are using technology to radically improve their performance.

Drivers of success for digital transformation in waste management

“The research shows that there are five elements that are critical to success in transitioning into a digital organisation,” says Mark Abbas, Chief Marketing Officer for AMCS. “Besides engaged employees and a management team that gives people the space to innovate, it is very important to have a comprehensive understanding of the digital trends and advancements in the value chain. It is also down to a smart application of new technology within the organisation and using (reliable) data to make decisions.”

Key findings from the benchmark

There were three key findings from the research as follows:

  1. Digital transformation requires leadership in change management – 83% of those surveyed said they had the right leadership and culture in place to be able to realize a successful digital transformation.
  2. The digital part of the digital transformation is the most challenging for 60% of respondents.
  3. Legacy systems are the biggest challenge to successful digital transformation for 54% of respondents.

What do the leaders do differently?

According to Abbas, the research results provide insights into a very interesting group of companies that have taken the lead in digital transformation. “This group approaches digital transformation in a completely different way and has very different priorities from the rest. Their operations are already very nearly paperless, they use digital invoicing systems and they have self-service web portals available for their customers. They are also more likely to already be using other digital techniques and applications, such as RFID, GPS Monitoring, Route Optimisation and in-vehicle tablets.”

The foreseeable future will be about evolving from data to information. Analytics and BI are making it possible to immediately calculate the profitability of routes and jobs. Coordination with subcontractors is optimised when information can be exchanged digitally. And investing in applications like digital invoicing and payments mean offices can become completely paperless.

About AMCS Group

AMCS is a supplier of integrated software and vehicle technology for the waste, recycling and material resources industries. AMCS helps its customers to reduce operating costs, increase asset utilization, optimize margins and improve customer service.

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hazzmatt1

Nexxsource Recycling Sold

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North West Rubber Ltd. (NWR) and Moose Creek Tire Recycling Inc. (MCTR) a Subsidiary of Animat Inc. recently announced their acquisition of the assets of Nexxsource Recycling (and all related companies). The new company will operate under the name Evolve Recycling Inc. (Evolve), and will also include Trillium MC Inc., MCTR’s tire hauling subsidiary. Evolve is headquartered at 300 Henry Street, Brantford, Ontario.

Evolve is a major transporter and processor of end-of-life tires in Canada, with operations spanning Manitoba and Ontario. Evolve processes these tires into various end-products.

In Ontario, producers and importers of tires must comply with the Regulations made under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016. Most tires go to tire recycling operations such at the Nexxsource (Evolve) facility in Brantford.

The nearly named Evolve tire recycling facility in Brantford recently applied for an amendment to its existing Environmental Compliance Approval (waste disposal) to all it to store tires outside. In 2016, when the facility was operating at Liberty Tire Recycling Canada Ltd., its application for an amendment to its Environmental Compliance Approval (waste disposal) was denied by the Ontario Environment Ministry. The 2016 amendment request was rejected due to complaints/fire accidents about the plant operations.

NWR, headquartered in Abbotsford, B.C., has been in business since 1968. It has rubber product manufacturing facilities in B.C., Ontario, China, and is currently constructing a manufacturing facility in Texas. NWR produces and supplies a wide variety of flooring, matting, and industrial products to several Retail and Industrial markets throughout North America.

MCTR, whose majority shareholder is Ani-mat Inc., has been in business for 10 years, although Ani-mat (headquartered in Sherbrooke, QC) has been in business since 1983. MCTR/Ani-mat have manufacturing facilities in Ontario and Quebec, and supply a wide variety of products all over the world for various uses in the dairy and equine industries, and as anti-fatigue mats and floor protection in commercial and industrial areas.

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