Environcom has installed the "UK's first" compressor dismantling facility, found at its Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) treatment facility in Lincolnshire.
The machinery itself, which the company claims is only one of two in Europe (and the second of its kind), enables the safe dismantling of compressors from both refrigerators and other cooling appliances. It has been installed at the Environcom plant, as part of a partnership with the compliance scheme REPIC. The machine is dubbed CARRIE, and stands for the Compressor Automated Removal and Recycling Equipment. It has been introduced with the aim of "raising standards" on compressor recovery within the UK - it will also look to reduce the number of compressors that are currently being exported abroad.
It hopes to process around 10,000 compressors a week; it is expected to generate up to 28 tonnes of copper, and 252 tonnes of steel every month and these will be returned back to manufacturing.
Environcom has said in a statement that CARRIE will enable the raw and valuable metals found inside of compressors to be extracted and recovered right here in the UK, adding that producers of refrigerators and cooling appliances should also see benefits to this new machine, as it should provide an evidenced audit trail for a greater volume of compressors. The company explained that there has previously been no capacity to dismantle compressors in the UK, and only a limited capacity throughout all of Europe until this machine was introduced.
Compressors are the ball-like black metal component found at the bottom of the fridge, and unfortunately, they are often targeted illegally for their scrap metal value when compared with the rest of the fridge's components (whenever there is a cost of disposal). The older fridges have compressors made of copper, whereas newer models are made of either aluminium and steel. Theft of these is particularly dangerous, as their improper removal can cause the release of harmful gases into the environment.
The CARRIE process is fully automated and carried out within a controlled environment, achieving "the highest standards for environmental control and employee health and safety." By avoiding the need for any transportation abroad, the carbon footprint of recycling can also be reduced. This investment in new technology has been made possible by a partnership between Environcom and REPIC, with the sole aim of enabling improved standards for WEEE recycling.
In a comment on the machinery, Cris Stephenson, Environcom CEO has said, "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."
Adding that, "Our collaboration with REPIC has been key, and we hope to lead by example in raising the standards on WEEE treatment in the UK."
The CEO of REPIC, Mark Burrows-Smith, has said, "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 seeing the positive benefits which CARRIE will have on the industry."
