recycling of composite, plastic laminated, wood products/furniture 3

[RobertJeffery]

Google/duckduckgo is not helping me find what I need. I am trying to find a way to recycle furniture that is made up of wood chips/flower, epoxy resin with a plastic veneer. Currently, the only alternative I see is either sending such products to a waste heat plant or a landfill. Neither alternative is conducive to net zero waste. Suggestions please.

 

[EdStainless]

With epoxy you will be stuck with thermal or chemical process to break it down.
You might be able to autoclave it and capture the off-gas and reclaim the solids.
Regrettably burning it will yield the highest value.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[SnTMan]

I don't see how you can do much besides grind it up and make more pressed wood out of it...

Regards,

Mike

The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[TugboatEng]

I don't understand the aversion to burning it. That's better than net zero as it's the only option that offsets fossil fuel use. All other methods require additional fossil fuels to carry out.

 

[rb1957]

I wonder what "crap" that'd put into the atmosphere ?

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?

 

[MJCronin]

Bobby

This is a good forum to discuss the pros and cons of waste-to-energy plants and the advantages of burning plastic waste. This is not a new idea and it is standard practice in several European countries. I have worked on several waste-to-energy projects and all had strict emissions requirements.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste-to-energy_plant

Burning used waste plastics will produce electric power, and harvest the heat energy expended in production AND offset the burning of fossil fuels. This multiple benefit must be recognized !

https://cen.acs.org/environment/sustainability/Should-plastics-source-energy/96/i38

Again, I agree with tugboat. Explore the advantages and disadvantages... then either grind your waste up and use it as "filler" or burn it

Anyone else have recommendations ??

MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer

 

[TugboatEng]

rb1957, most plastics are simple hydrocarbons so burning them would put nothing worse into the atmosphere than burning gas or oil. Of course halogenated plastics such as PVC would have to be separated from the stream as they produce acid gasses and dioxins as they burn.

 

[1503-44]

If nothing else, feed it to the mushrooms. Mushrooms are pretty good at breaking down HC materials, but it may take some time. You might get something to eat. Much better than burning it.

 

rb1957, most plastics are simple hydrocarbons so burning them would put nothing worse into the atmosphere than burning gas or oil.

Where did you learn this? Plastics are often not simple, and burning them is highly problematic.

The actual solution is manufacturers making a longer lasting product instead of disposable, non-recyclable garbage. If that means re-shoring some manufacturing from you-know-where, it's a win-win.


"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts."

 

[IRstuff]

The actual solution is manufacturers making a longer lasting product

THAT's never going to happen; why would anyone build a product to put themselves out of business?

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list

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The planet is getting busy putting all of us out of business...

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts."

 

[TugboatEng]

The long lasting products are available. The problem is that you don't want to pay for them.