France-headed global waste and water management company Suez has announced that it plans to build the first plant in Europe for the recovery of non-ferrous metals from bottom ash in the Port of Ghent, Belgium. The plant will use proprietary "Valomet" process technology, developed by Suez, to recover fine non-ferrous metal particles of between 0 and 20 mm in size from bottom ash, a residue from waste-to-energy plants.
According to Suez, the company has successfully concluded a one-year trial with the process in Ghent. The pilot project began in November 2015 and metal concentrates from bottom ash were processed and separated. Over a one-year trial period, Suez extracted around 1 300 tonnes of fine metal particles, which were then returned to the production process, through foundries and metal refineries. The pilot project recovered tonnes of aluminium and denser non-ferrous metals such as copper, lead and zinc.
The Flemish government has invested EUR 1 million to implement the new plant with a “zero waste target”, in Ghent. The facility will ensure a territorial anchorage of Suez’ activities in Ghent, a very good news for the economy and the employment in the area. The Flemish support also encourages the international Group Suez to invest in the circular economy in Flanders, said Philippe Muyters, Flemish Minister of Employment, the Economy, Innovation and Sport.
The company has revealed that it has already begun construction of a new industrial plant in the Port of Ghent and the new plant is scheduled to be operational at the end of the year. Its aim is to multiply the production capacity of the pilot site tenfold and to process up to 12 000 tonnes of metal fines annually by 2019. The bottom ash processed will come from European countries, including Belgium, France, the UK and Poland.
In view of the significant investment in research, technology and training associated with this type of facility, Suez welcomes the support provided by the Flemish government.
I would like to thank the Flemish government for supporting this innovative European project. In this new plant, Suez will recover bottom ash from its European energy recovery units from 2019 and will thus increase its production of non-ferrous metals such as copper, gold, silver and aluminium. This innovation marks a new stage in the circular economy, in which we give final waste a second life and protect natural resources, said Jean-Marc Boursier ,Group Deputy CEO for the Recycling and Recovery segment in Europe.
