Recycling & solid waste

Recycling is meant to protect society at large and the natural environment from pollution. But a recycling plant itself needs fresh air, too. Protect your plant, equipment and personnel, and prevent dust explosions, odor nuisances and other health and safety risks at these important facilities.

How the sources of waste at recycling facilities pose health hazards

Recycling plants and materials recovery facilities (MRFs) are full to the brim with different materials from domestic and industrial sources that produce plenty of powder and dust. Solid waste for recycling can include metals, glass, cardboard, plastics and wood. In single-stream enclosed MRFs, multiple waste sources, both organic and inorganic, co-mingle and must be separated.

These processes generate odors from sources like hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl sulfide and mercaptans. The human nose can detect these smells at levels in the parts per billion, so even low concentrations can result in foul odors.

And because nearly any solid, including metal, can explode when in dust form, recycling plants are highly prone not only to odors, but to dust explosions and fires.

Reduce the risks with robust air filtration against odors and dust

In some facilities, the mixed residual waste is combusted and used as a fuel for energy production. These incineration plants can also provide an odor control function. However, it is likely that there is an annual shutdown for several weeks every year for re-lining and other maintenance. To prevent an odor nuisance during this time, a stand-by molecular filter fitted in a by-pass loop makes a good option.

Instead of collection by truck, some modern residential developments provide for pneumatic conveyance of domestic waste from individual homes to a central collection point through underground pipes. These cases require dust and odor filtration on the exhaust of the system at the collection building to avoid nuisances in heavily populated areas.