How Do Manufacturers Recycle Waste Materials?

Waste in manufacturing is an unfortunate reality. However, manufacturers can actively mitigate the effects of waste by recycling. 

Even the leanest manufacturing facilities create waste. Companies, families, and individuals all play a role in the buildup of waste. 

However, that doesn’t mean we should give up and let the waste go to the landfill. 

Recycling industrial waste is an opportunity to redeem useful metals, glass, and other materials from the scrap produced during manufacturing. 

Learn more about how to recycle industrial waste and how NRTC Automation can help below. 

Recycling in manufacturing 

Source of industrial waste  

Industrial waste is produced by manufacturing companies, construction sites, and production and power plants. The waste can be a by-product of manufacturing, like raw materials such as metals, or it may be broken and defective equipment that cannot be repaired.  

When a company finishes a project and completes a tear out of their facility, there is a huge opportunity for recycling materials. Recyclable industrial waste is also produced on a day-to-day basis as production occurs and scrap material is left over.  

What is tear out waste?  

Tear out waste is any material that is not part of the company’s valuable equipment or resources.  

Waste can be anything from scraps of manufacturing material to profitable materials like copper, or even remnants from lunch break. It’s important to identify waste production to prevent future debris and to save money and materials. Perhaps it is even more important to identify how to correctly manage waste so that resources are used and energy is saved.  

Defining the end-state  

One of the most important parts of decommissioning a project is defining the end-state. The end-state is the goal of the project: a broom-ready facility prepared to take on a new project. Defining the actions that need to happen to get to the end-state will outline our strategy for completing a tear out.  

The end-state is also necessary for considering how we deal with tear out waste. In order to achieve a broom-ready facility, we will need to manage waste in a way that is both efficient and environmentally responsible. 

Common recycled industrial materials  

A few of the common industrial materials that are recyclable include:  

• Scrap metals (copper, iron, aluminum, etc.)  

• Glass  

• Plastics  

• Scrap tires  

• Chemicals  

• Digital waste  

Most manufacturing by-product can be recycled, which makes it even more important for manufacturers to take action and recycle their waste. 

Chemical waste in particular is necessary to recycle, or at least dispose of responsibly, because of the risk of contaminating groundwater and other resources. 

Recycling process  

Recycling is a standardized step-by-step process from picking up the waste to presenting repurposed materials to be used for new products.  

• Once the materials have arrived at the processing center, they are dumped and sorted. The sorting process may be done by hand or with automated lines.   

• The waste will then be processed once it has been accumulated into groups. Waste can be broken down, melted, or separated by parts and reused.  

• Finally, the waste is transformed into a useable product and can be sold to companies that utilize recycled materials to create new products and be reintroduced to the market.  

Repurposed products  

Recycled materials can be reused to create repurposed products, such as:   

• building materials  

• industrial equipment and storage  

• glass products  

• cables  

Using repurposed products are cost-effective and marketable for being sustainable.  

Let your customers know your green habits! They may be more loyal customers if they know you are doing your part to improve the sustainability of your company. 

Prevent waste by recycling usable materials.  

You can contribute to the movement toward a sustainable world by recycling viable industrial waste.  

Conforming to the Superfund law and keeping waste out of landfills will allow materials to be repurposed, preventing more pollution and litter from soiling the planet.   

DO YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO DECOMMISSION YOUR FACTORY?  

NRTC Automation is renowned for our decommissioning and tear out services. We provide tear outs for all industries in factories and manufacturing facilities around the world. With our dedication to complete the project on your time requirements, our strategic planning process, and our team’s commitment to your project, it’s no wonder that we are trusted by the world’s top automobile manufacturers.  

Contact NRTC Automation today to discuss how we will decommission your factory according to your standards.