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The Energy Impact of Industrial Recycling and Waste Exchange
Abstract
Recycling and waste exchange, particularly in
the industrial sector, has a substantial positive
energy impact and one that can often be accomplished
at little or no expense. Recycling saves energy
because the secondary materials being recycled are
"pre-processed", and this requires less
manufacturing operations than creating products from
virgin materials. Process energy reduction
possible by recycling is estimated to be as high is
95% for aluminum and 88% for plastics.
Industrial waste exchange is facilitated by
having an independent agency to publicize and
coordinate materials availability and exchange. The
North Carolina Energy Division is a co-sponsor of
one such agency, the Southeast Waste Exchange in
Charlotte, and has funded workshops on the
recycling-energy connection and waste minimization.
Although the paper, plastic and glass familiar
to residential recyclers are also exchanged at the
industrial level, in addition, industrial waste
exchange deals extensively with solvents, oils,
acids and alkalis and other specialty substances.
Subject
Recycling and Waste ExchangeCollections
Citation
Phillips, W. C. (1992). The Energy Impact of Industrial Recycling and Waste Exchange. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.eslwin.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /92167.