Resource efficient cable plastic recycling
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Swerea IVF AB - Swerea IVF AB, Göteborg |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 4 589 000 |
| Project duration | November 2013 - October 2017 |
| Status | Completed |
Important results from the project
The goal has been to develop methods so that the various plastics in cable waste can be recycled safe and in a resource efficient way. Methods have been developed to sort, separate and upgrade the plastics into new compounds that can be used for new products. It has also been demonstrated that HFFR (halogen-free) cable plastics can be recycled and used in extruded profiles and pipes. Several possibilities for recycling XLPE have been demonstrated and one of them, cable drums, is now being produced at Axjo Plastic in recycled XLPE and PP.
Expected long term effects
The project contributes to resource efficiency and reduced climate impact when XLPE cable scrap is recycled. The material cost is about half when recycled cable plastic is used compared to virgin material and more than 2 kg of carbon dioxide emissions are saved per kg recycled plastic. It has also been demonstrated that the material can be recycled several times, which means greater savings. The project also contributes to a non-toxic environment with knowledge how to separate the cable plastics with legacy additives from the plastic that is safe to recycle.
Approach and implementation
The project has been to carry out a large number of full scale trials with sorting, granulation, separation, quality control, recycling and evaluation. Trials have been made with both well-defined production scrap and mixed cable fractions. It has generated many important experiences, good statistical basic and reliable results. The trials have been made in cooperation with project partners and other stakeholders. Environmental system analysis and cost estimation have been used to verify the implications of the different recycling options.