The self-cleaning unit captures iron, iron oxide and stainless steel particles.

Goudsmit Magnetics of Waalre, the Netherlands, has introduced a rotating magnetic separator designed for the ferrous-metal-free processing of lithium-ion powder intended for batteries. The company says the nickel, cadmium and lithium cathode powders must be of optimal quality to guarantee the operation of a battery. Any iron-bearing metal contamination present in the powder reduces the quality of the material mix and leads to a battery's short life, according to Goudsmit.

Its self-cleaning rotating magnetic separator filters metal particles as small as 30 micrometers from the lithium powder. The magnetic separator contains nine rotating magnetic bars that prevent the fine powder from sticking to the bars. The rotation ensures the product does not stick to the bars so good deferrization is possible, according to the company. The pneumatically operated magnetic bars have a deep catch field and can capture paramagnetic particles, such as iron oxide and stainless steel, in addition to iron particles.

The magnetic separator is dust-proof and can be cleaned automatically. The valve box in the system removes the captured metal particles on-site, as illustrated in the video below. 

CameraMatics is an Ireland-based IoT fleet and vehicle safety technology company.

CameraMatics, an internet of things (IoT) fleet and vehicle safety technology company based in Ireland, says it has re-engaged in the U.S. market, with new hires a new website specifically designed to help decision-makers of American trucking fleets and business-vehicle operators to improve safety, efficiency and compliance. 

CameraMatics was launched in 2016 and says it has more than 1,000 customers globally, including some leading mid-to-large-sized fleet operators. The company says it also has seen 300 percent growth in its customer subscription base since January 2020. 

In January, CameraMatics closed a Series A funding round. These funds are being used to support the expansion of its U.S. branch where a team is being built covering sales, customer success and technical services. CameraMatics says it also is using the recent investment to expand its entry into the mainland European and Middle Eastern markets and expects to create more than 50 jobs over the next two to three years in the U.K. and Ireland. 

“CameraMatics has cemented its position as a market leader in Ireland and the U.K., and we’re excited to bring our technology and continue our mission to drive new standards in vehicle and driver safety across the US and the world,” says CameraMatics co-founder and Director Simon Murray. “Launching our dedicated U.S. website and strengthening our presence in this market is an important milestone for the business. We’re extremely excited about the response we received in the US around our solution and look forward to helping all our customers drive new safety standards across their fleet operations and keeping drivers and other road users safe and protected in North America. The future looks very bright.” 

The CameraMatics software as a service solution is a modular and configurable software platform based on connected camera technology, vision systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning and telematics, combined with fleet safety modules. It is designed to help fleet operators drive new safety standards across their fleets and drivers. The company says its technology can reduce accidents, improve operational efficiencies and manage compliance. 

“Operating commercial vehicles has become a risky business,” says Michael Menolascino, head of sales, U.S. “Whether operating a large fleet or a handful of light trucks, fleet operators are responsible for the safety and security of vehicle assets and drivers, in addition to ensuring compliance, controlling costs and operating as efficiently as possible. With insurance premiums soaring and nuclear and large-scale court verdicts increasing, U.S. fleets need an intelligent, easy-to-use solution like CameraMatics. I’m excited to bring our cutting-edge technology to US customers.” 

CameraMatics is a member of the American Trucking Associations, Virginia Manufacturers Association and the Virginia Trucking Association.

The study found that the broad organics category, which also includes yard waste and diapers, accounted for about 30 percent of the state’s landfill waste by weight.

A 2020-2021 waste characterization study commissioned by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has found that organics account for roughly 30 percent of the state’s landfill waste by weight.

As reported by the Wisconsin State Journal, the study states the broad organics category accounted for about 1.3 million tons. An estimated 924,900 tons of paper, including cardboard, compostable and office paper, comprised about 21 percent of the landfills’ tonnage. That was followed by plastic at about 17 percent, or 745,600 tons.

The study, for which samples were collected in the fall of 2020 and spring of 2021 by Long Beach, California-based environmental consulting and contracting firm SCS Engineers, was completed by filtering through 200 pounds of waste collected at 14 landfills and one solid waste transfer station.

Casey Lamensky, solid waste coordinator for the DNR, told the State Journal that the 14 sites represent 72 percent of the state’s municipal and general solid waste. Crews collected 398 200-pound samples from those locations.

“Then those samples were hand sorted into 85 different waste categories to give us a percent total that each of those categories represents in our landfills in 2020,” she said.

This is the third study of its kind, and the first since 2009, Wisconsin Public Radio reported.

Lamensky said organic materials in landfills are compressed with other waste to open up space. But that compression pushes out oxygen, which helps break down food. Without oxygen, food is broken down by other microorganisms.

“And those microorganisms off-put methane, which is a greenhouse gas that’s 28 times more powerful than CO2,” she said.

Aside from food waste, the State Journal reports there were several marked improvements since 2009 that the study acknowledged, including a reduction in roofing shingles showing up as solid waste. This can be partially credited to recycling efforts that use old shingles in road-building.

Another example is likely due to Wisconsin’s law to recycle electronics that went into effect in 2010, according to the DNR. Compared to 2009, when the study was last conducted, the weight of landfilled TVs and monitors dropped 85 percent this time around.

Lithium-ion batteries continue to be a growing concern for MRF operators as their use becomes more ubiquitous.

As a result of new advancements in technology and growing demand for electric vehicles, battery power across the world is expected to increase from 184-gigawatt hours (GWh) in 2018 to more than 2,600 GWh by 2030, according to market and consumer researcher Statista.

For recyclers, that means that about 86,000 metric tons of nickel, 35,000 metric tons of cobalt and 125,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent from used batteries will be recovered for reuse by 2030, according to Statista. While a greater influx of batteries into material recovery facilities (MRFs) across the nation presents an opportunity for these facilities to capitalize on the recyclable material, this also means an increased risk of fire hazards.

As many facility operators have seen firsthand over the years, lithium-ion batteries are perhaps the single biggest threat to MRF operators because of the fires and explosions they can cause if not properly handled.

“Lithium-ion batteries pose a serious threat to both the equipment and people that work in these facilities,” says Michael Timpane, the vice president of Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Resource Recycling Systems (RRS). Timpane has spent three years researching this issue with organizations like the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.

Due to the risks these batteries pose to operators, experts like Timpane have been searching for new ways to proactively address these issues as demand for batteries increases.

While it has not been conclusively studied, experts like Timpane report instances of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries are increasing. According to a survey done by Timpane in conjunction with the EPA, 50 percent of MRF operators believe that fires are increasing at MRFs and 64 percent of operators believe it’s because of the spike in lithium-ion batteries.

A study done by RRS showed that a MRF operated by South Bay Waste Management in Northern California had 5.48 lithium-ion batteries come down the belt every hour, which equates to about 1,000 over five weeks.

Lithium batteries have a chemistry different from other batteries because they have higher energy densities and voltages, can contain a charge in a dead product and their electrolytes are flammable if they come in contact with air, according to the EPA.

This means that any puncture of a battery could cause damage to the safety separator between the cathode and anode, which generates heat and can cause a fire or explosion. Additionally, sorting these batteries is difficult because they are sometimes hard to identify and remove from electronics, says Jordan Riveria and Neal Sushack of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a branch of the Department of Transportation.

“Anything that uses a battery could be considered dangerous,” Timpane says. “Even something as small as a greeting card because they release a thermal reaction if they’re not handled properly.”

A fire or explosion as a result of failing to properly sort or store a lithium-ion battery could lead to catastrophic damage. For example, a fire at one of South Bay Waste Management’s MRFs that was believed to be started by a battery cost the company about $8.5 million in damage. This type of widespread damage is, unfortunately, all too common for recycling organizations.

While the dangers of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries are growing in severity, Timpane says several things can be done to proactively stop a fire from happening. This includes improved signage, deployment of technology, and improved training and education.

“Before electronics even make it to the waste stream, they could have clear labels on them warning consumers not to put it in recycling containers,” Timpane says. “I know original equipment manufacturers could improve the labeling of these devices and be more consistent. This could prevent a substantial amount of these batteries from making it into waste streams.”

While some manufacturers have begun labeling what devices can and cannot be recycled, most still do not. This means MRF operators need to increase training and education for their workers so they are aware of what to look for when analyzing incoming materials. Timpane says things like repeatable toolbox training sessions that focus on identification, fire response and hauling should all be covered frequently in sessions. Also, he suggests training drivers to lookout for batteries when on collection routes to prevent batteries from making it to the MRF.

Timpane says that operators should also put their workers through battery count training. This is when the operator places scrap either on the floor or a belt that’s been stopped so that the workers can sift through to find all the batteries in the mix. The goal is to increase a worker’s awareness about what kind of material could have a lithium-ion battery in it.

“Practice makes perfect,” Timpane says. “You can do it on the floor or on a belt, but if you get your employees involved, chances are they will pay attention.”

Other things that an operator can do to improve the safety of a facility include routine checkups of the facility’s security system at night as well as making sure the sprinkler system has been inspected by the local fire department, Timpane adds.

Technology is also playing a larger role in preventing fires at MRFs. Timpane says companies can invest in artificial intelligence that can alert employees when a lithium-ion battery has been detected. He also notes that there are various webinars and podcasts that can be used as training tools for workers.

“The EPA holds frequent webinars about this,” Timpane says. “I believe artificial intelligence is going to play an important role in MRF technology and safety.”

While there are plenty of preventive measures a MRF operator can take to increase site safety, the most important thing in preventing fires is educating the community, says Brandon Wright, the communications director of the National Waste and Recycling Association.

“Everyone wants to recycle,” Wright says. “People want to do the right thing, even if they’re not sure if the object can be recycled or not. So, they throw it in the bin anyway and hope that someone else down the line will sort it out.”

Educating the community on what can and can’t be recycled often eliminates fire hazards before it is possible for an issue to arise. This can be done through improved pamphlets, posters and some boots-on-the-ground initiatives. Some communities, like Akron, Ohio, have launched programs to examine residents’ recycling carts, and if there is contamination like plastic bags or lithium-ion batteries, a note is left informing the resident why the container cannot be collected.

However, while experts agree that cart contamination assessments and tagging programs are some of the most effective ways of preventing fires at MRFs, it takes a constant effort. This is because residents frequently come and go from the community, which means how an area recycles constantly changes.

“I really do believe that community engagement helps prevent hazardous items like lithium-ion batteries from entering the waste stream,” Timpane says. “Improving the education of the community can increase its acceptance of better recycling methods. However, you can never let your foot off the gas pedal. If you do, that could lead to an increase in hazards found down the line.”

This article originally appeared in the Sept. issue of Waste Today. The author is a digital editor for the Recycling Today Media Group and can be reached at akamczyc@gie.net.

The city of Absecon, New Jersey, received a grant from The Recycling Partnership to help fund the purchase of new 96-gallon recycling carts.

The city of Absecon, New Jersey, has received a grant from The Recycling Partnership, Falls Church, Virginia, to provide Absecon households with new 96-gallon recycling carts for curbside, single-stream recycling collection. The carts replace smaller bins that had been used for residential recycling.

The new carts come with wheels for easy maneuvering and attached lids to keep recyclables dry and secure. Cart delivery began Sept. 20.

“We are excited to bring carts to the residents of Absecon. The new carts are easy to move, durable and will keep our streets cleaner on recycling day. We look forward to seeing an increase in recycling rates and a decrease in litter,” says Absecon Mayor Kimberly Horton.

According to a news release from The Recycling Partnership, the new carts should be the primary containers used by residents for recycling. Residents may still use smaller bins when additional capacity is needed as long as the bin includes a lid.

Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) provides collection for Absecon. ACUA’s collection team uses an automated cart tipper to lift and pour materials from containers into its trucks. “The switch to carts just makes sense—they keep our communities cleaner, and they have proven to increase recycling rates in municipalities that adopt them,” says ACUA President Rick Dovey. “We look forward to expanding this effective and efficient collection system.”