Don’t even think about tossing out those old cables. Ateco can turn them into PVC granules, supporting Europe’s drive toward a circular economy that saves energy and resources. With a little help from the industry’s recycling program VINYLPLUS.
How do they do it? It almost sounds like making flour: “First there’s the important phase of grinding the cables, followed by a process of washing and drying, in order to separate the PVC components from metal components and eliminate impurities,” says Riccardo Angelucci, Manager at Ateco.
“In this way we obtain minced PVC. In case of cable scraps difficult to treat, we collaborate with other recycling companies which are included in the voluntary commitment of VINYLPLUS,” he says.
The result is regenerated PVC granules that comply with the latest EU regulations, Angelucci says. The process also recovers the metallic electric conductor.
“We think that these actions of recovery and regeneration of PVC deriving from electric cables, despite the objective difficulties encountered in the processing phases, favour the implementation of practices consistent with an idea of green and circular economy, respecting the environment and optimising the resources,” Angelucci says.
Among the challenges: constant monitoring of the process and the product to ensure a good level of quality and compliance with EU environmental and health regulations.
“We saw those challenges as an opportunity, with payback for all involved, as well as for the environment,” he adds.
Ateco will exhibit at Plast 2018 in Milan, from 29 May to 1 June.