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. 

Here's What Happens to Recycled Industrial Materials

In 2017, the U.S. produced about 7.6 billion tons of industrial waste, and only 30% of all industrial waste is recycled.

Recycling is important for two reasons, and the first one that comes to mind is sustainability. Who wouldn’t want to contribute to a cleaner, greener world? Recycling waste materials lowers pollution rates, lessens production’s harmful impact on animals and marine life, improves standards for human health, and eliminates the addition of one more product in a landfill. 

The second reason is liability, as industrial waste can potentially be dangerous. Violating waste regulations is expensive and may have negative consequences for employees and the company. The Superfund law is reinforced by the EPA to keep companies responsible for their waste, encouraging them to take action against unlawful dumping. 

Thankfully, recycling is becoming easier as technologies develop and more recycling companies enter the market. Read more about the source and types of industrial waste and how they are recycled below. 

Recycling Industrial Materials 

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. 

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 

There is a different process for each of these materials, which will be explained below. 

Transportation of materials 

The logistics of transporting waste materials is important for two reasons: 

• There will likely be a lot of waste, especially after a tear out, that will be sent for recycling. 

• These materials could be potentially hazardous (like chemicals) or dangerous (like glass), so proper transportation is necessary for safety. 

Materials are typically loaded into a roll-off container, ranging in size from 20-yards for heavy materials to 40-yards or more for large industrial equipment. They are then transported by a truck. Compactors may also be used to condense like materials for easier transportation. 

Waste transportation can be costly, which is why NRTC Automation covers the bill during a decommissioning project. We will ensure that your facility is broom-ready by shipping off recyclable materials and prevent any surprise costs associated with transportation. 

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 will be 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. 

Now 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, storage 

• glass products 

• cables 

The benefits of using repurposed products are that they are cost-effective and marketable for being sustainable. 

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.  

CONTACT NRTC AUTOMATION FOR YOUR TEAR OUT. 

NRTC Automation will provide a customized solution for the decommissioning and tear out of your manufacturing and industrial assets. Our focus is on minimizing disruption and downtime in the work area while emphasizing safety, speed and efficiency. We also provide additional services to help ensure full adoption of automation solutions and a seamless integration into your workplace. 

Contact NRTC Automation today for more information on how we can personalize our solutions for your company. 

What Do We Do with Tear Out Waste?

In manufacturing facilities, tear out waste is the remainder of material after industrial robots and manufacturing equipment have been removed. 

Waste is a reality of manufacturing, but with proper care and methodology, we can reduce the amount of waste that goes to the landfill and repurpose it for future projects. 

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. 

What do we do with tear out waste? 

Clean material (that is, non-hazardous solid waste) is available for disposal, recycling, or refurbishment. The amount of waste created depends on the type of company and the size of the project. 

When the tear out portion of the decommissioning project is complete, we will break up the waste into three groups: waste to be sent to disposal, waste that can be recycled, and parts that can be refurbished. 

IF IT’S UNSALVAGEABLE, WE DISPOSE OF IT. 

Any material that cannot be recycled or restored will be disposed of. We use trash gondolas to organize and transport materials to construction size dumpsters that will be relocated to a landfill. 

The goal is to reduce the amount of waste that goes to a landfill. In order to do this, we determine what materials can be salvaged and where to send them next. 

IF IT CAN BE REPURPOSED, WE SENT IT TO A RECYCLING CENTER. 

Waste that can be recycled will be sent to the nearest recycling center for repurposing. Some examples of materials that can be recycled include batteries, transformers, large containers, and oil filters. 

There are a few different methods of recycling, and they all make use of materials and gases to create new products or energy: waste can be melted into a homogenous substance and reused, broken down in recyclable parts, or heated to create thermal energy. There are even more methods to recycle depending on the type of waste and the new technologies that become available to recycling centers. 

Recycling is the second-best option for managing waste. Read our next point to find out the best option for managing tear out waste! 

WASTE THAT CAN BE RESTORED WILL BE SOLD TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT REFURBISH WASTE MATERIALS. 

Materials that contain valuables like copper, aluminum, and steel will be sold to an organization that provides the best value. Once a deal is made, the buyer will restore the materials into new equipment for future projects. 

Refurbishing materials is the most environmentally friendly option for managing waste after a tear out. It takes less energy than recycling to reuse materials and it keeps garbage out of landfills. 

There’s more to decommissioning after the equipment is removed. 

Once NRTC Automation completes the tear out portion of the decommissioning project, the next step is to manage the waste from the project. We create a detailed plan for every step of the decommissioning project to ensure that the facility is broom-ready for another project. Once we have delineated waste into the categories above, we distribute the materials to the landfill, a recycling center, or to an organization that will refurbish the waste. 

After the waste is managed, then we can prepare the facility for the next project by creating a smooth surface and performing a walkthrough with a dedicated project manager. 

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.