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Why recycling is a challenge to sustainability
For the general public, recycling is one of the most significant steps towards a more sustainable planet. But for the recycling industry itself, the aggressive operating environment is a challenge to the sustainability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the sector.
From heavy concrete to sharp glass, many of the materials being recycled today are a real challenge to operating equipment. The operating environment is an aggressive one for conveyor belts in particular, so the right choice of belting material can make a significant difference to process efficiency, energy efficiency, maintenance requirements, and durability.
When rubber’s not right
Traditional rubber belts offer two key benefits: mechanical strength and a high level of cut and abrasion resistance. For mixed waste handling, when brick, concrete, glass and steel could all be passing along the belt at some point, strength and resistance are essential.
However, because rubber belts are thick and heavy, and need larger pulleys to drive them, they use more energy, place more wear and tear on the conveyor system as a whole, and increase maintenance costs. So over time, despite the qualities for which it was chosen, a rubber belt becomes less of a benefit and more of a burden.
So operators are increasingly considering more efficient alternative belt materials, such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU).
A question of balance
PVC conveyor belts are much lighter than rubber, so consume less energy and require less robust conveyor constructions. These two factors together can help to significantly lower operational costs and reduce the operating facility’s carbon footprint. But this has to be balanced against their poor durability compared with rubber.
This makes PVC belts more suited to transporting lighter materials such as plastic and paper. They also perform poorly when exposed to sunlight or very low temperatures, making them the wrong choice for outdoor recycling environments.
TPU belts, on the other hand, take harsh recycling environments in their stride.
At roughly half the weight of comparable rubber belts, they enable faster and wider recycling lines – which in turn means lower ongoing energy and maintenance costs. They also have high abrasion and cut resistance, making them suitable for handling even heavy and abrasive materials. And despite their higher initial cost, they offer a lower total cost of ownership.
Their weak point is a lower resistance to hot water, making them less suitable for applications such as the hot wash process in PET plastic recycling.
A belt and braces solution
By definition, recycling plants are playing their part in sustainability. That can be enhanced even further if the plants themselves operate more energy-efficiently and sustainably.
Choosing the right conveyor belt material can help.
Lightweight materials like TPU and PVC reduce the energy required to operate the recycling lines. They lower the operational costs of the facility. And they reduce its carbon footprint.
However, this can only happen if the correct belt for the conditions is selected.
Facility managers thinking of upgrading their conveyor belts need to thoroughly evaluate their current operations, and identify the key areas where improvements can be made. They should consider the types of materials being handled, their facility’s energy consumption, and its maintenance costs.
Then, with these facts and figures at their fingertips, they should talk to the experts, who can guide them in selecting the most suitable belt material. A free consultation with Habasit is a good place to start making recycling even more sustainable.
When the going gets tough…
A Habasit customer was operating in a particularly tough recycling environment, using traditional rubber conveyor belts. After consulting Habasit, they switched to TPU belts and quickly saw positive results.
Energy consumption and maintenance costs were both significantly reduced. The lighter belts helped to speed-up processing, at the same time as reducing mechanical strain on the system.
Along with lower operational costs, the customer saw an increase in overall throughput, meaning their entire recycling process become more efficient and more profitable.
For more information on Power Transmission and to get in touch with one of our ERIKS Specialists, please contact your local ERIKS Service Centre, who will be happy to discuss your options.
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