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News
v A new system for detection of
banned polybrominated substances
ANNECY | Alcatel Vacuum Technology is introducing a new
technology to confirm the absence of polybrominated diphenyl
ethers (PBDE) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) in
electrical or electronic products using Ion Attachment Mass
spectrometry (IA-Mass). IA-Mass allows the analysis of
samples at a rate that is consistent with a manufacturing
environment. No special lab or highly trained technician is
required for IA-Mass. The IA-Mass instrument can be operated
by a regular technician and can take place alongside a
manufacturing line.
The RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive
and its application releases in all European States stipulates
that manufacturers must guarantee that these (PBDE,
PBB) restricted substances are not present in their products.
The number of samples requiring analysis will reach tens of
thousands each year. Based on AVT, the novel IA-Mass method
to check PBB and PBDE in plastics is extremely easy to
use and can obtain coherent results in line with those provided
with GC/MS in a greatly reduced time. z
v Oahu’s Recycling Numbers Down
HONOLULU | Residents of Oahu are recycling and reusing
less waste, further burdening the Waimanalo Gulch landfill.
State officials say the island kept 35 per cent of its waste
out of the landfill in fiscal year 2004 and 41 per cent in
2005. But that number dropped to about 31 per cent last
year when the island produced nearly 1.8 million tonnes of
solid waste and reused or recycled little more than 500,000
tonnes.
Officials say they are not sure why less waste is being diverted
from the landfill, although they add that large construction
or public works projects can push recycling numbers
down because much of their waste cannot be recycled
or reused. Environmentalists say Oahu residents need to
change their attitudes about recycling. z
4
v Call for urgent action on Ireland’s
waste is too late
DUBLIN | The Irish waste sector has warned that a call from
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for ‘urgent action’
for Ireland to meet its EU 2010 landfill targets could be too
late. A published discussion paper entitled Hitting the targets
for biodegradable municipal waste: Ten targets for change
said that the outcome currently being achieved with biodegradable
municipal waste (BMW) is ‘less than satisfactory’.
The EPA’s National Waste Report revealed that 1.4 million
tonnes of BMW were landfilled in 2006. “As recycling rates in
Ireland are now reaching the best in Europe — averaging from
40 to 50 per cent — and substantial residual waste remains
to be managed, there is now an inescapable requirement for
waste to energy to reduce landfill rates to 20 per cent or less
in accordance with northern European norms.” Commenting
on the EPA report, Green Party environment minister, John
Gormley, said: “This report makes a very welcome contribution
to finding solutions to obstacles in our path.” EPA said
that 92 per cent of BMW was landfilled in 2006 and suggested
ten areas to encourage landfill diversion. z
v Nucor acquiring DJJ
CINCINNATI | Nucor Corp. has signed a purchase agreement
to acquire the stock of SHV North America Corporation,
which owns 100 per cent of the David J. Joseph Company
(DJJ), its related affiliates and real estate, for around
US-Dollar 1.44 billion. DJJ will be a wholly owned subsidiary
of Nucor Corporation and will maintain its headquarters in
Cincinnati.
DJJ is one of the leading U.S. scrap companies. The acquisition
of DJJ will bring a variety of benefits to Nucor. In addition
to DJJ’s scrap operations and expertise, its extensive
brokerage operations provide Nucor with global sourcing of
many key steel-making raw materials. DJJ’s rail services and
logistics capabilities will allow Nucor to leverage the largest
private railcar fleet in North America dedicated to scrap
transportation. The addition of DJJ to Nucor’s current scrap
processing capabilities will allow the company to process
about four million tonnes of ferrous scrap annually. z