Pyrolysis - a method to recycle metals and energy from WEEE presently landfilled

Purpose and goal

Due to the lack of public funding to Brazilian partners the project see no possibility to move forward with a large collaboration. Stena has applied for funding project 2013-03051 to develop a pyrolysis and gasification process. If approved, Brazilian partner may join the project provided they receive public funding from Brazilian authorities. Research applications focusing on comparative studies of the socio-technological dimensions of waste systems have been submitted to various research councils, if accepted, Brazilian partner will be funded by the Swedish research partner.

Results and expected effects

To evaluate business conditions in the waste sector in Brazil, Stena Metal has started discussions with representatives from Curitiba to start separate collection of WEEE. Proposed steps 1) Collection 2) Intermediate storage 3) First treatment (removal of hazardous waste) 4) Export to European recycling. When collected volumes increase, treatment may be conducted in Brazil. Socio-technological aspects of waste systems have been elaborated into further research applications with scholars from Brazil and Germany. These applications are addressed to various research councils.

Approach and implementation

The Swedish preparations comprised telephone meetings and one physical meeting. The workshop in Sao Paulo included a study visit to a pyrolysis plant and meetings with the branch organization for private recycling companies and waste pickers cooperative. The workshop strengthened the knowledge and understanding of the participants´. However, the project learnt that public funding is limited for the Brazilian partners and the workshop in Sweden was cancelled. To understand the Brazilian funding possibilities the project manager attended a meeting with FINEP in Rio in May.