Latest news with #recycling


Zawya
12 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Sibanye-Stillwater to acquire US PGM refinery for $82mln
Sibanye-Stillwater announced that it has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire Metallix Refining for $82m. In operation for the last 60 years, Metallix produces recycled precious metals, including gold, silver and platinum group metals (PGMs), primarily from industrial waste streams. It operates two processing and recycling operations in Greenville, North Carolina. Metallix has a global customer base, which it services from the United Kingdom and South Korea, in addition to its customers in the United States. For the 12 months ended 31 December 2024, Metallix processed approximately 4.2 million lbs of precious metals bearing waste materials and produced approximately 21koz of gold, 874koz of silver, 48koz of palladium, 48koz of platinum, 4koz of rhodium, 3koz of iridium and 263klb of copper. Metallix complements Sibanye-Stillwater's US recycling operations in Montana and Pennsylvania, adding processing capacity and proprietary technology. Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman commented: 'We are excited to be adding Metallix to our existing recycling footprint – the scale, technology, and know-how add positively to our existing recycling operations and advance our urban mining strategy. We expect significant value uplift through the large number of synergies with our existing recycling operations.' The acquisition enhances the group's global recycling reach and internal logistics capabilities, increasing its ability to source materials from multiple regions, facilitating the delivery of end-to-end solutions to customers. Based on the latest audited financial information, Metallix has recorded positive earnings and cash flow and is expected to contribute positively to the Sibanye-Stillwater Group's earnings and cash flow immediately. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2025, subject to receipt of applicable regulatory approvals customary to a transaction of this nature.


CNET
13 hours ago
- Business
- CNET
No, You Shouldn't Smash Aluminum Cans Before Recycling. Here's Why
CNET Recycling is one of the easiest ways to do right by the planet, but doing it correctly takes more than tossing old metal into the bin and calling it a day. While most of us know we should recycle, the how of it often gets murky. According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, over 90% of steel products can be recycled, which is great news -- but only if they're properly prepped first. That includes rinsing out aluminum cans, cleaning up old cookware and removing non-metal parts from small appliances. And if you're still crushing your cans flat before tossing them? Don't. Experts say that can mess with sorting machines that rely on shape to ID and direct materials to the right place. The bottom line: steel and aluminum can be recycled endlessly without degrading, so it's worth doing right. The Missing Piece to Apple's Eco-Friendly Mission The Missing Piece to Apple's Eco-Friendly Mission Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 8:45 Loaded : 5.67% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 8:45 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. The Missing Piece to Apple's Eco-Friendly Mission Here are some easy tips to follow when recycling to make sure you're always on the right page. For more important tips, explore which takeout containers can and can't be recycled, how to recycle computers and printers free and how to recycle your old phones. Which sorts of metal cans can be recycled? All metal cans are recyclable, if they've been cleaned. Examples include: Beverage cans, like soda and beer, including the tabs Paint cans Canned goods Aerosol cans Cleaning metal cans Don't do this: Toss cans into the recycling bin before cleaning. If foods or liquids are left in the cans, they can contaminate an entire batch of recyclables, rendering them useless. Unrinsed cans can also attract roaches, rodents and other nasty critters that you don't want crawling around your bins. Do this instead: Make sure all cans are clear of liquids or foods that could be left in the container. You can do this by rinsing the can when you're finished with it. What to do with the lids Canned goods: Don't remove the lid only halfway before placing it into the recycling bin. Instead, completely remove the lid from the can and place it inside the can (after rinsing). Only place lids inside an empty can made of the same metal material. Aerosol cans: Lids on aerosol cans are typically plastic so you should remove those before putting the cans into the bin. The plastic lids should go with other plastic recyclables, as the heat applied during the metal recycling process will destroy any plastic recyclable mixed into the batch. Clean out all cans before recycling. Alina Bradford/CNET Do I need to remove paper labels before recycling cans? Generally, you don't need to remove paper labels from metal or aluminum cans before you chuck them in the recycling bin. When the cans are recycled, the heat applied to the metal burns away the paper and the adhesive glue entirely, meaning there's no worry that your contributions might contaminate the batch. However, there are other cases in which you might want to remove the paper labels before you recycle something. You can take these labels off of your metal cans and toss them in with your paper recycling if you don't like the idea of the labels getting turned to ash in the recycling process. More important, you do have to remove the paper labels if you're recycling plastics, because the recycling process for metals and plastics is different. When in doubt, it's best to contact your local recycling facility. One Reddit user familiar with recycling facilities pointed out that, while the mechanics of recycling are important to understand, each recycling plant has its own unique machinery with different capabilities -- they aren't standardized so it's not simple to give a one-size-fits-all answer. Making a quick call to your local plant will ensure that you know what can and can't be recycled, and what might contaminate a batch of recyclables. What else should I do? Avoid puncturing aerosol cans to remove the remaining liquid. Make sure all paint is either dry or completely rinsed out before recycling. If you have leftover paint or other hazardous waste, take it to a drop-off center near you. Don't crush aluminum cans before recycling because they can contaminate the batch. Recycling sorting machines also rely on shape to identify and crushing cans and other recyclables can trip them up. For more recycling information, here's how to properly recycle plastic and the right way to recycle paper and cardboard. Metal recycling FAQs What's are the most important things to do before recycling metal cans? Before you recycle metal cans, it's important to rinse them out to remove any excess fluids within the can. This is to make sure that your can doesn't contaminate the entire batch of recyclables. You can also remove the paper label but this isn't necessary for metal cans. When should I remove the paper label from my recyclables? While it's not necessary to remove the paper label from metal cans, you can still do so if you want to put the label in with the rest of your paper recyclables. You do have to remove the paper label from any plastic recyclables, as the plastic recycling process is different from the metal and aluminum recycling process.


Zawya
14 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
GCC waste generation surges 154%
Muscat – The waste management market in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states is projected to grow from an estimated US$68.3bn in 2025 to US$97.4bn by 2030, according to a study by Mordor Intelligence. The sector is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 7.4% over the five-year period, driven by rising waste volumes and enhanced treatment infrastructure. Latest figures released by the GCC Statistical Centre show that total waste collected across member states reached approximately 262.7mn tonnes by the end of 2023, marking a 153.7% increase over 2019 levels. Of this, 192mn tonnes were treated, representing a 128.5% increase. The per capita share of household waste in the region declined by 17.4% to 1.4kg per person per day, reflecting a shift in consumption patterns and increased awareness. Household waste volumes, which had peaked at 35.5mn tonnes in 2020, dropped to 30.8mn tonnes in 2023. Almost all the waste collected – 99.2% – was classified as non-hazardous. Among the hazardous waste collected, 95.8% was exported for treatment, mainly involving recovery of metals and metallic compounds. The region has met Sustainable Development Goal 12 targets for hazardous waste recycling and reuse, with a reported 30% recycling rate in 2023. GCC countries have collectively submitted 87 national reports under the Basel Convention on hazardous waste control. Medical waste volumes have also shifted post-COVID-19. Hazardous waste from the healthcare sector dropped 11.4% in 2023 compared to 2022. However, the region has expanded its treatment capacity significantly. The number of incineration facilities rose to 23 by the end of 2023, up 27.8% from 2022. Industrial hazardous waste recorded a 23.8% increase over the same period, indicating a rebound in industrial activity following the pandemic. Agricultural waste rose sharply to 2.5mn tonnes in 2023 – a 44% increase over the previous year. Waste from other economic activities rose from 11.9mn tonnes in 2019 to 14.3mn tonnes in 2023. The GCC's evolving waste landscape, marked by declining household contributions and rising volumes from agriculture and industry, reflects both environmental policy shifts and economic recovery trends. Ongoing investments in treatment infrastructure and waste export mechanisms are central to the region's broader sustainability goals. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (


BBC News
15 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Horsham District Council to buy seven bin lorries in upgrade
Horsham District Council is to spend £1.73m on seven new bin lorries and £50,000 on bin decision was agreed during a meeting of the full council on Mercer, cabinet member for environmental health, recycling and waste, said that seven of the lorries the council's 25-strong fleet were "desperately in need of replacement".Mr Mercer said: "We run the service with very few complaints. We have minimal missed bins and very high recycling figures in comparison with other local authorities. "We're experiencing daily breakdowns, which puts real pressure on the workshop to keep all vehicles legal and road-worthy."The council's fleet collects from 67,000 properties across the district, totalling 4.25 million bin lifts per money will be taken from the capital expenditure budget and will be spent in 2026/ new vehicles will run on HVO – hydro-treated vegetable oil – a biofuel which emits far less carbon when compared to diesel, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UK shops to take on full cost of packaging waste disposal
Retailers across the UK are preparing for the rollout of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a landmark regulation that will shift the full cost of household packaging waste disposal from local authorities to producers. Set to take effect from October 2025, the scheme is expected to cost the industry around £2 billion annually, with significant implications for packaging strategies, supply chains and product pricing. How EPR changes the cost of packaging waste Under the EPR scheme, retailers and manufacturers will be required to pay fees based on the type, weight, and recyclability of the packaging they place on the market. This replaces the current shared-cost system, where local councils bear most of the expense for collecting and processing packaging waste. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that modulated fees will apply from 2026, meaning that producers using easier-to-recycle materials will pay less. This aims to encourage eco-friendly packaging design and a reduction in hard-to-recycle plastics. For now, fees will be calculated based on total packaging volumes reported by businesses for 2023, with the first invoices due next year. Retail sector faces cost and compliance pressure Retailers are concerned about the financial burden and administrative complexity of complying with the new rules. Industry groups such as the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have called for greater clarity around fee calculations and how the funds will be used to improve recycling infrastructure. Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, said the new EPR scheme must 'deliver value for money and transparency.' She also urged the government to reinvest funds into developing a more effective waste collection system that supports retailers in achieving their sustainability goals. Large brands have warned that some of the costs may ultimately be passed on to consumers. According to the Food and Drink Federation, the EPR rollout could lead to increased prices across everyday goods if retailers and suppliers are unable to absorb the additional charges. Data reporting and packaging design under scrutiny Retailers have already begun adjusting their packaging strategies to minimise liability under EPR. This includes reducing packaging weight, eliminating unnecessary materials, and switching to widely recyclable formats. Businesses with an annual turnover above £2 million and placing more than 50 tonnes of packaging on the UK market must also register with the EPR system and submit detailed packaging data. The data reporting requirement, which began in 2023, has proven challenging for many organisations. A lack of centralised guidance and inconsistencies in local recycling services have made it difficult for businesses to assess the recyclability of certain materials. Retailers are also reviewing product design, sourcing and labelling practices in preparation for modulated fees. Some are accelerating plans to adopt mono-material solutions or move away from coloured plastics that cannot be recycled at scale. "UK shops to take on full cost of packaging waste disposal" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data