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The consumers role

As consumers buy more and more products, product lifecycles consistently decrease. This increases waste volume, such as discarded packaging, batteries, and disused devices. Simple solutions can relieve the pressure.

Effective recycling solutions benefit people, businesses, and the environment. And they are needed more than ever at a time when waste volumes are increasing and efficient ways must be found to recycle electronic devices, batteries, bottles, paper metal, glass, packaging, and more.

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Consumer involvement: What can be recycled?

We believe recycling should be simple. However, the participation of all of us, as consumers or citizens is crucial to make it happen.

We can choose where to deliver our waste regarding its type to guarantee its sorting, treatment, and recycling. The beginning of the waste management chain depends on consumers and then, ERP will do the rest, energizing operations and technical procedures.

Our pyramid of decisions and behaviours to promote a circular economy begins in the shop when we choose our product. Do we consider its energy efficiency? Do we verify if the product is recyclable or has recycled materials?

During usage, we should bear in mind some maintenance and care measures to extend our product’s life cycle, including reuse and repair. If there is no option for the product than recycling, let’s give it a second life!

Recycling of waste from A to Z

After being collected, waste is sorted by groups with different characteristics and treatment requirements to be recycled when not reused. The loop is closed when raw materials are reintroduced into the production system.

Learn about the recycling process by selecting the icons below.

ERP Recycling Image

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Recycling materials for a healthy environment

ERP resources icon

Recycling saves valuable raw materials and conserves energy. Our planet’s resources are finite. Only increased use of secondary raw materials can stop the linear economy and conserve available resources.

Our space is finite; landfills poison our environment with hazardous, toxic substances.

ERP environment health

A safer and greener environment improves the quality and enjoyment of our lives.

Recycling means we consume fewer materials, have less waste to treat, and spend less energy mining and refining new raw materials.

Recycling

What are portable batteries?

Batteries or accumulators are any sources of electrical energy generated by direct conversion of chemical energy and consisting of one or more primary battery cells (non-rechargeable) or consisting of one or more secondary battery cells (rechargeable).

Most types of batteries contain toxic heavy metals, including nickel, cadmium, and mercury. All of these metals can be recovered and reused.

Recycling batteries is good for the environment as it keeps them out of landfill, where heavy metals may leak into the ground, causing soil and water pollution and endangering animal and plant life. If batteries are incinerated with household waste, the heavy metals inside them cause air pollution.

Grandes aparatos

Esta fracción de RAEE incluye aparatos como lavadoras, lavavajillas, cocinas, microondas, secadoras.

La primera etapa de su reciclaje es la descontaminación: los cables y otros componentes eléctricos se separan; contrapesos de hormigón, plásticos, componentes férricos y otros metales son apartados. Posteriormente estos materiales se envían a otras plantas para su procesamiento y valorización.

Proceso de reciclaje

1. Descontaminación previa a fragmentación

2. Fragmentación

3. Separación

Materiales recuperados

Cables

Hormigón

Condensador

Plásticos

Metal ferroso

 Metal no ferroso

Intercambio de temperatura

Agrupa aparatos de intercambio de temperatura que utilizan fluidos diferentes al agua (radiadores, frigoríficos, congeladores, dispensadores de agua, climatizadores de aire…) Los más antiguos, contienen sustancias refrigerantes peligrosas para la capa de ozono, que están actualmente prohibidos o limitados (clorofluorocarbonos –CFC-, los hidrofluorocarbonos –HFC- y los hidroclorofluorocarbonos –HCFC-). Estos fluidos son extraídos de los aparatos en atmósferas controladas y posteriormente enviados a plantas especializadas para su eliminación.

La descontaminación de los aparatos de frío intercambio de temperatura conlleva una serie de etapas: primero los compresores son descontaminados para recuperar los fluidos refrigerantes y los aceites minerales; luego la espuma aislante es también tratada específicamente para recuperar los fluidos refrigerantes impregnados en ella; los metales son recuperados y los plásticos pueden ser usados para fabricar nuevos productos. Los fluidos que generan frío o calor y los aceites son eliminados en procesos especializados de tratamiento.

Proceso de reciclaje

1. Descontaminación

2. Fragmentación

3. Separación

4. Descontaminación de las espumas

Materiales Recuperados

Gas