Branching Out!

[funkeii]

Hi guys,

We are a WEEE recycling company and we would like to start recycling fridges. We are aware that staff will need the relevant cat 3 FGas qualifications to do this.

We are not sure on what equipment we shall need to invest in, I presume it would involve degassing the fridges using specialist recovery equipment and recovering any liquid refrigerants and oils, while meeting environmental guidelines.

We are looking at accepting primarily domestic fridges and would not be recycling the foam ourselves, as I am aware this has to be shredded by a specialist in order to contain any ODS within the blowing agent.

So any advice would be really appreciated on what we may need to start up! Is anyone involved in this line of business?...

What equipment would be best for us to recover approx. 100 fridges per day?

How would we dispose of the refrigerant gases, liquids and oils - costs involved?

Where do we take the metal casing/doors containing the blowing agents and how much will this cost?

Is the foam in the entire casing back, front and sides inc. door?

I guess we are evaluating whether it's financially viable considering any costs invloved!

Anyway sorry in advance for my thesis on this! Just thought I may benefit from you knowledgable people!

Cheers,

Kath

[taz24]

Hi guys,

We are a WEEE recycling company and we would like to start recycling fridges. We are aware that staff will need the relevant cat 3 FGas qualifications to do this.

We are not sure on what equipment we shall need to invest in, I presume it would involve degassing the fridges using specialist recovery equipment and recovering any liquid refrigerants and oils, while meeting environmental guidelines.

We are looking at accepting primarily domestic fridges and would not be recycling the foam ourselves, as I am aware this has to be shredded by a specialist in order to contain any ODS within the blowing agent.

So any advice would be really appreciated on what we may need to start up! Is anyone involved in this line of business?...

What equipment would be best for us to recover approx. 100 fridges per day?

How would we dispose of the refrigerant gases, liquids and oils - costs involved?

Where do we take the metal casing/doors containing the blowing agents and how much will this cost?

Is the foam in the entire casing back, front and sides inc. door?

I guess we are evaluating whether it's financially viable considering any costs invloved!

Anyway sorry in advance for my thesis on this! Just thought I may benefit from you knowledgable people!

Cheers,

Kath

With very little outlay you could easily set up recycling.

The biggest hurdle will be the approval from the relevant authorities for recovery
and storage. Jump through those hurdles and you could have all the equipment for
about £1000 to £2000.

You need someone qualified (£500 to £1000 dependant on ability)
You need gauges and piercing tools to clamp onto the systems (£200)
Automatic recovery machine (£500 to £900)
Recovery cylinders are on rental and you pay for the destruction of the refrigerant.

All the best

taz

Ps I forgot about the oil.
The oil will need draining and storing and also needs waste transfer / exemption
certificates to do so.

taz

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[taz24]

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There are a few outfits throughout the UK that do this on a big scale.

They have machines that take whole fridges and reduce them to piles of
metal, foam, copper, plastic, oil and refrigerant. They work in Nitrogen rich
atmosphers and are fully automatic but cost hundreds of thousands of pounds
so pay back is reletive.

All the best

taz

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[funkeii]

Hi Taz

Thanks for your swift reply!

Yes I had looked into the 'all-in-one' kits, but they are far too expensive for our relatively small scale operation I'm afraid!

It does seem difficult to jump such hurdles you speak of! I am wondering what parts we would be able to recycle if we cannot process the metal which contains the foam?

Is it going to be worthwhile considering there are costs to dispose of refrigerants and oils and the foam??

Kath