Study of comprehensive governance of glass packaging waste
June 2010
Production of container made with glass has a long history. Later, with the ever-changing industry technology, plastic packaging containers, composite containers, etc., many different material containers emergenced, so glass containers in the fierce competition among the container with the new material. However, like the crystal texture, the translucent glass containers has a clean appearance, good sealing, the chemical is stability, excellent, and many other advantages, especially because the main raw material of glass is extremely rich crust deposits on the quartz sand and a variety of minerals, and the price is low, glass container which has not so far been marginalized, eliminated, but due to various surface coating technology and the trend of lightweight containers, leading to a certain degree of development. Glass containers are common bottle (small jars, large jars, screw sealing bottles), cans (packaging of canned food use), glass bottles and medical ampoules.
glass packaging waste
Glass packaging waste are glass containers and materials became solid waste which are loss or complete the function of original value and use value, glass packaging waste comprehensive governance refers to the processing of glass packaging waste (ie have been generated to reduce the volume of glass packaging waste, etc.) and reusing (through recycling, processing, etc., from glass packaging waste or make it into a handful of available resources and other raw materials activities).
First, the quantity of glass packaging waste contained in the municipal solid waste
When the glass containers lost or completed the original value and use value to keep the contents, like other packaging waste they all became a solid waste and join the ranks of garbage. Data shows that U.S. produced garbage 150 million tons per year; the amount of municipal solid waste in China has reached 150 million tonsin recent years.Take Shanghai and Guangzhou for example, Shanghai has about 10,000 tons of municipal solid waste per day; Guangzhou has more than 5,000 tons of municipal solid waste per day. In these municipal solid waste approximately 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 is the packaging waste, including glass packaging waste by about 5 to 10%. For example, the U.S. packaging waste accounts for about 33% of municipal solid waste, about 40% in Japan, EU countries about 30% to 50%, China about 30% to 40%.
Second, the significance of glass packaging waste recycling
The situation of glass recycling in the world is that the United States is account about 30% of recycled glass; France 48%; Germany 76 % and Netherlands is 77%.
China is a country with a large population, large glass container consumption, but a country lack of resources and energy. China’s production of glass containers in 1999 is about 900 million tons, the recovery rate is less than 20%, far below the industrialized and developed countries. In the recycling of glass packaging waste (some U.S. glass container recycling 8 times or so) or developing new products, which can not only save minerals resources, reduce energy consumption, but also can reduce the environment (particularly water and air) pollution. From the conservation of mineral resources, every ton of broken glass of using, can save 700 kg of quartz sand, 150 kg limestone, and about 160 kg of soda ash, etc., for a total savings of 1200 kg of raw materials; from saving energy is concerned, from the point of glass melting manufacturing process, when using the raw materials, the chemical process is complex, and the calorie consumption is really high, the heat consumption is about 624 calories to produce 1 kilogram (1500 ℃) glass liquid.
If the major change is physical when glass material used , the system only need to consume 437 calories to produce 1 kg of glass liquid; from the point of saving time, the time to complete the the glass melting is about 200 minutes of using complete power material, mixed with 1% broken glass can be shortened to 95 minutes; from the point of reducing the atmospheric pollution, the chemical reaction happen when the glass batch melting at high temperatures, which will produce toxic fumes, such as arsenic compounds, fluorine compounds, lead compounds, cadmium compounds. Also in the processing of raw materials and feed preparation process will produce dust, which will bring to air pollution. The broken glass melting process is a simple physical changes, it can greatly reduce air pollution. Because of glass packaging waste with the economic and social benefits, so the amount of using broken glass at home and abroad are increasing, factories “100 %” of using broken glass have been appeared in domestic. For example, in Beijing, Guangzhou and other area, the usage of broken glass has expanded to 50% to 70%.
Third, the sorting tenology of glass packaging waste
Glass packaging waste often mixed with other packaging waste and other garbag. In this situation we can not only use the traditional manual sorting, but also use the modern technology for sorting.
1. Use the gravity for sorting
The first step is base on the different densities of different substances, through the air separation equipment, to separate the high density material from the low density material initially, and then do a further sorting with the high density material fall to the bottom of the vessel. For example, glass with high density and metal are usually re-sorted with shaker. In addition, the inertia method can also be used for sorting, commonly used equipment ballistic separators, ballistic separators and ramps transport sorting machines; also centrifugal separation method can be used a lot less dense material from selected density of carved glass and metal. Screening device can use the ring or rolling circle, relying on rotating centrifugal force, towards the outside of the glass and metal, less dense material towards the inside. The density of glass and metal separated from the trash, then the use of magnetic separation method, the separation of glass and metal again.
2. Use the heavy media for separation
First, dubbe in water suspension with fine magnetite or ferrosilicon alloy, and then put the broken packaging waste or garbage in the heavy medium, the material with low density will float then discharge, sediment density of glass are separated. Such a dense medium can be used repeatedly to reduce the cost of sorting.
3. Use the optical technology for sorting
In order to separate the colored and colorless glass, we can use of the electronic color picker to sort. The methods were: shred the glass into pieces 6 to 16 mm, put the fabric on the conveyor belt into a line to the optical tube with special background and the stage, detect by optical methods on the landing on way, then take colored glass or other debris by blowing through jet nozzle.
Fourth, the recycling of glass packaging waste1. Clean and disinfect the glass container before reuse
The surface of glass container is smooth , its neutral, without additional deposited coating, and easy to clean, easy to re-seal. If working properly, a bottle can be reused about ten times. As long as to clean and disinfect the recycling empty bottles and cans carefully, if there is request of pressure, it can be reused after the stress test. The key to reuse the glass container is cleaning and disinfection. Glass container should be washed inside and outside, but also to guarantee the cleaning speed. In order to ensure the quality and the speed of cleaning, mechanical equipment must be used. As for the sterilization, should choose sterilization process according to the contents requested , and then determine its disinfection liquid and mechanical equipment.
2. Treatment of glass packaging waste recycled
If the glass containers can not be used, have been damaged or become pieces can be use the process of melting treatment. Melting treatment not onlycan saves the production of raw materials and soda, energy and time, but also can play the role of flux.
Recycled broken glass reproduction is the results of scientific and technological progress of the last 20 years. Before that, the glass factory control the amount of mixing into broken glass less than 10%, the reason is the broken glass recycled is dirty, and tucked all kinds of debris, such as iron, aluminum, paper, plastic, cork , of stone and rubble films, etc., but their composition of broken glass is complex, the size is not uniform. Three important step must be controlled to do the broken melting treatment: The first one is the pre-processing step. The second is the broken glass recycled must be sorted carefully, washed, chopped and deployment process, to ensure the composition of the glass to make a strict test, analysis, and other craft recipes for practical basis; The third step is take a good production control. Make the production process according to specific conditions, and accordance with the provisions of the actual operation process strictly.
3. Use of the glass packaging waste to develop new products
（1） Use of the glass packaging to develop Micro Crystal Glass
Micro Crystal Glass is a solid with a large number of ceramic polycrystalline fixed in the molten state control of crystallization in the system. Compared with the ordinary glass has a high mechanical properties, good thermal shock resistance, chemical stability and a certain cutting performance and other characteristics. The main raw material to produce Micro Crystal Glass is plant fly ash, waste non-ferrous metals ore, blast furnace slag, red mud and waste glass and aluminum, etc., together with a small amount of sulfide, fluoride, and chromium oxide and other nucleating agent, after crushed and stir well then put into the furnace. Melt in 1400 ~ 1500 ℃, keep stable 1 to 2 hours and then release, throw the glass liquid into water quickly, remove the broken glass, drying, milling and screening; then do the nucleation between 800 ~ 950 ℃, sintering 0.5 to 1 hours, heated to between 1000 ~ 1150 ℃ for crystallization and smoothing, keep 0.5 to 1 hours before the removal; the last step is natural cooling, annealing, off-core, grinding, polishing to produce the products of glass.
The Micro Crystal Glass produced by sintering can present a beautiful sparkling patterns, because when the glass particles into a water quenching heat treatment, the particle surface has a high degree of crystallization, the internal has a low level of crystallization, the reflection of light is different due to the different crystallization, thus made the sparkling pattern after the show. To get a clear pattern, the glass particles need to be sifted classification, then put in the mold shop according to the ratio of a certain grain size by layer , pay attention to the surface of the particles can not be too small, otherwise the surface of the pattern will be obvious. Glass color is extremely important, to increase the whiteness of products can be introduced in the basic amount of glass in zinc oxide. As the fine glass color, and no brittle, also has high strength properties, which had no effect on the human body, it has been great popularity and promotion.
(2) Use of glass packaging waste to develop foam glass
Foam glass has features of low water absorption, thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion, high strength, frost resistance and durability, and can be sawing, gluing easily,etc., it is a building material with features of light, keep off heat, moisture and it can keep from fire It has been used extensively for the ceiling, the enclosure wall, interior wall, heating pipes, ventilation pipes, cold storage, oil, natural gas pipeline insulation and heat insulation. It can also play a role in insulating against noise, some noise in places such as the compressor, fan room walls as a protective wall with insulation and sound absorption can play the role.
With the development of science and technology, foam glass will be widely used in the area of petrochemical industry, colding, underground engineering, construction, power and shipbuilding etc., the manufacturing method is usually adding a certain amount of foaming agent to the glass raw material powder, then put the mixture into the mold to let the manipulation heated for foam molding, and then anneal cooled slowly in porosity can be obtained more than 90%, composed of independent pores of the glass foam. The product’s raw material is glass packaging waste in the lower softening point of soda lime silica glass, produced in two ways: one is the powder melting method, the other is the float, before our country to use more methods. Powder melting process method is: Wash the waste glass, drying and foaming agent and other auxiliary materials according to precise ratio mixture into the ball mill grinding. When the material after the required size, remove from the ball, into the mold box, into the tunnel kiln, the first warm-up in the 350 ~ 400 ℃ 0.5 hour and then heated to 850 ℃ to make it melt, swelling, foaming, and burning into, into the annealing furnace after cooling cut into the required product specifications. Common formula for foam glass: 75 ~ 80% waste glass, Slag 10 to 15%, blowing agents (graphite) 1.0 ~ 1.5, and promote melting modifier (Na2B4O7) 2 ~ 4%, foaming accelerator (Sb2O3 ) 1 ~ 3%.
(3) Use of glass packaging waste to develop glass particles
Glass beads according to different classifications have different types. To their use can be divided into industrial beads, beads and special beads optics; by hollow and solid points, can be divided into the hollow beads and solid beads; according to their size can be divided into small beads (diameter 0.8 ~ 5 mm) and beads (diameter less than 0.8 mm). Glass bead chemical stability, mechanical strength, smooth filling good, light reflex (reflex, especially directional Regression) fine. It uses a unique and extensive, and its maximum amount of low-refractive. For example, mixed in the paint as road signs; for interior decoration and crafts. Can play a magic in the night light effect. Production methods often used to fight the fire floating method, isolation method and agent Production of injection. The first two methods for forming the second method, usually recycled waste glass as raw material to produce the fire dispute the basic principles of flotation recovery of waste glass is broken into a certain size particles and glass particles in a certain way into the flame. Indisputable role in the fire, melting the glass particles to soften, beads of cooling solidification, Serve glass beads. This method typically produces 0.8 to 5 mm fine beads; release agent The basic principle is to waste glass broken into small particles, with the release agent (graphite) by a certain percentage of mixed into a certain speed of rotation of the furnace tube in heating. Droplet surface tension of glass beads under cooling after cleaning and drying the finished product. This method usually produces 0.8 to 5 mm fine beads; hollow glass beads glass waste and water glass can be used as the main raw material, its production process can be divided into beads and bead blanks firing blanks forming two phases.
(4) Use of glass packaging waste to develop glass fiber
The chemical composition of glass fiber 15.4% for the silica, alumina 17.5%, 15.4% calcium oxide, magnesium oxide 4.2%, 2% sodium oxide and so on. If the waste glass with the composition of different ingredients can be made the appropriate adjustments in the melting furnace after the ball through the automatic control mechanism into the glass ball, glass ball and then put Rula Si melting crucible, through the spinneret holes and the manufacture of glass fiber drawing machine. Use of waste glass produced glass fiber can be used to produce glass fiber is not strictly required for FRP products, such as polyester and glass fiber reinforced Si-Mg tile cement tile products.
(5) Use of glass packaging waste to develop buliding materials
Regeneration of waste glass recycled glass, the purity and color requirements are too stringent, thus limiting its extensive use. The general requirements for production of building materials with waste glass is not very strict, the amount is large, so is the fate of the largest glass packaging waste.
① Development of glass mosaic: it is porous and has a smooth surface and the role of decorative building materials with non-slip, widely used in the building interior and exterior decoration and non-slip surface. The production methods are pressing temperature sintering and melting rolling and French. The former waste glass-based, can also be adapted to local conditions appropriate use of waste and tailings. Waste glass cleaned, remove the metal and non-metallic and other debris, then dry it into the ball mill grinding. Crushed after adding binder, water, coloring agents, mixed, semi-pressure molding, into the electric kiln, about 800 ~ 900 ℃ in temperature in the sintering, annealing at about 500 ℃. After cooling, separating waste, dry it on paper, the final packaging and storage; the latter is the main way: the glass, silica sand, dolomite, limestone, soda ash and other raw materials and opacifiers, colorants and fluxes and other auxiliary Flaking, according to the formula mixed with a roller or chain plate on the calendar molding, and then into the glass melting furnace, melting temperature of 1250 ~ 1400 ℃, annealing cooling after molding, stickers, dry, packaging and storage.
② Development of artificial marble: artificial marble using waste glass can be sintered, high strength than natural marble. The formula is: waste glass and 50 to 60, 100 stone, clay, 20 to 50, size 80 to 100 mesh, even after stirring bar into the mold, pressing placed in the kiln, calcination at about 1200 ℃ 8 to 10 hours, and then out of the cooling. Produced by sintering technology imitation marble veneer lies in proper control of a good glass of particle size distribution, establish reasonable sintering temperature curve, and the crystallization temperature in the appropriate district heat, and then pay attention to the slow cooling, annealing. Oil enamel color stain can be used, can be obtained with a variety of crystalline pattern stained glass marble panels. Marble texture and color depth, limestone and talc can be deployed.
③ Development of artificial granite: it is very similar to natural granite and wide variety of sources of raw materials, low cost, simple processing, can do decorative plates, tiles, sanitary ware and sculpture, the building also apply to the less demanding. The formula is: glass, white Washi, quartz sand 80 to 100 copies, 4 unsaturated polyester and curing agent to 10 parts 2 to 4 copies. Unsaturated polyester resin reactive resin should be chosen medium, and mix ingredients to evenly; unsaturated resin curing agent is usually an organic peroxide, the amount of suitable, not too large or too small, the general control of the amount of resin 2 4%, to promote the role of agents is to break down at low temperature curing agent, the amount of great influence on the rate of resin cure, must be strictly controlled. Its production process is: filler surface treatment agent, accelerant, curing agent, resin mixing; mold coated with release agent, the gel coat, will be poured into the mixture, pouring through the curing mold, the final product obtained .
④Development of other materials: waste glass quality ceramic building materials production methods are: the ground to 100 mesh below the glass powder with stones, after beneficiation tailings, blast furnace slag, waste bricks, concrete and other waste mixed with water, the use of vibration clear casting injection molding, dry. Profiles into the dry kiln and fired under 780 ~ 900 ℃; waste glass produced bricks is: all kinds of glass, broken bricks, mixed with water, freezing into large blocks or bricks can also be its mixture with organic adhesive compression molding. The kinds of cement bricks as long as 1 / 3, its intensity is very high, but also precise dimensions; waste glass terrazzo production methods are: the use of waste glass instead of marble pellets or debris, mixed with white cement condensate timber processed into terrazzo, for floor or wall. This incorporation of waste glass are polished terrazzo grind, than mixed with fragments of marble, terrazzo, high strength, hardness, shiny and bright; waste glass reinforced cement production methods are: waste glass in Portland cement powder can be enhanced by adding cement compressive strength.
(6) Use of glass packaging waste re-do the pavement surface
Developed countries will waste glass and other materials (the amount of quartz sand and lime) mixed into the glass melting furnace, made of particles needed paving material. When the paving, these glass particles added to the asphalt, as road surface material. Can also be broken glass and stones, ceramics and other dark green for the road fill. Re-use of waste glass to do pavement surface has many features: light reflecting moderate, difficult snow to melt faster road wear, suitable for low-temperature region, the road friction increases, accidents decrease.
(7) Use of glass packaging waste to develop glass fertilizer
Glass is the plants need fertilizer trace elements (iron, zinc, boron, molybdenum, etc.) sintered together to make it slow release, so that the plants in the growth process in a timely manner to get the right amount of trace elements, in order to achieve high and stable yield purposes. It is easy leaching of soil and garden irrigation, good special effects, especially for corn, rice, vegetables and flax role better. Refining the use of trace elements in glass cullet fertilizer, applied only 1 kg per acre, plant growth can be maintained for several years without no lack of trace elements. The refining method is: the waste glass and listen clean, ground into powder 70, borax 15, iron oxide 5.05 parts, 4.05 parts zinc oxide, copper oxide 5.05 points and 0.85 parts of manganese dioxide, mixed and then finely ground, then built into the stone crucible resistance furnace heated cochlear refining. When the temperature reached 900 ~ 1200 ℃ melting raw materials at all, and then a special metal rod for stirring bar until the hot metal refining imaging as bright and emit water quench dry, ground into fine powder, which was no long-term micro- Su glass fertilizer.
Fifth, comprehensive measures of glass packaging waste
In China glass packaging waste recycling has attracted the attention of authorities, but because of low prices of recycled waste glass, waste glass recycling is not the direct economic benefits, and thus the recovery rate has fallen steadily, and will make waste disposal volume increased year by year, resulting in a second waste of resources; recovery team organization problems, waste glass recycling mission has been recovered by the company at all levels of supplies (station) bear, but the reform and opening up, with a profit target for assessment, there emphasis on economic benefits of light social phenomenon, and thus the high cost of recycling the enthusiasm high, and low economic efficiency of waste glass for recycling do not want, or even suspend recovery; of waste glass and develop new products, the value of lack of knowledge, but also waste Glass plant to develop new products but also a large transportation costs (due to the small number of plants such development, and locations scattered), so the only happy by the purchase of reusable beer bottles, while the broken glass or other glass containers are not willing to buy.
In order to reduce the glass packaging waste, development of “second resource” departments need to develop regulatory programs, the reform of management mechanisms, the establishment of regulatory enforcement, public education, etc. do a good job, take into consideration the comprehensive management. The starting point is the waste reduction, resource and starting point is harmless.
1. Wide publicity to enhance awareness of environmental protection education
When the civilization created by mankind, because of neglect and the nature of the coordination to the survival of the ecological balance has been increasingly serious damage. In China, air, water and soil have been contaminated can not be ignored, which played a role in packaging waste. Environmental degradation has become a worldwide problem, a direct impact on the quality of human existence, the main factor restricting the sustainable development. Therefore, the strengthening of the socialist spiritual civilization, strengthen the awareness of environmental issues, is a long-term repeated, extensive work. This work must often use a variety of media propaganda to mobilize the people in Jane effort. Through seminars, lectures, exhibitions, consulting, concerts, quizzes and prizes active “green” and “recycling” activities, people talking, to raise environmental awareness, everyone is concerned about environmental protection, will be built in China a highly civilized socialist country.
2. A sound legal system, the development of packaging waste-related policies and regulations
Developed countries develop a series of environmental emissions and packaging waste regulations in order to improve their living environment and the quality of the environment, . For example, the United States so 956 years promulgated the “Solid Waste Disposal Act”, 1970, promulgated the “Resource Recycling Act”; France provides waste thrown into the garbage in public places, a fine of 250 to 600 francs; South Korea in 1995, provides the waste must use government-provided garbage bags, and according to the amount of waste charges for violation of a maximum fine of 4 × 106 won (equivalent to RMB 1 million). China draws on the experience of developed countries, prevention and treatment of solid waste pollution, was promulgated in 1989 the “PRC Solid Waste Pollution Prevention Law” and the “State Council Decision on Several Issues concerning environmental protection,” These regulations are made requirements and specific prevention measures to be taken. But the lack of specific operational details, but also the lack of strong enforcement tools and monitoring mechanisms, so we had no one under the law, no one held accountable for illegal behavior.
3. Manage scientificly, establish and improve the packaging waste recycling network
Before the reform, China’s waste recovery depends mainly on the various towns’ waste collection stickers. ” After the reforms, a meteoric rise, there have been many individuals’ waste collection point. ” However, these acquisitions at the lack of scientific management, but do not form a network system. Especially foreign “scavengers” of migrant workers who complex, mixed, unlicensed operation, lack of values and moral values, the recovery of packaging waste had a negative impact. For packaging waste recycling, materials management departments at all levels of government, environmental protection departments and the business management department should pay close attention. To scientific management, full use of China’s surplus labor, and efforts to improve the quality of personnel recovery, the packaging waste recycling network system to establish and improve them, and to achieve healthy functioning. Meanwhile, the policy should be given to tilt, and use economic leverage, so that the “second resource” to be fully re-use and recycling. This will not only get the full use of the material, but also reduce environmental pollution, organized labor.
4. Utilize comprehensively, ”turning glass packaging waste into treasure,” and the develop new products
As already discussed before recycling of glass packaging waste recycled and new product development, so will not repeat. This is only to emphasize that the comprehensive utilization of waste glass packaging, “turning waste into treasure,” and new product development is the comprehensive management of packaging waste, glass key, since a high degree of importance should guide and organize experts to conduct special studies and technical staff and testing.
5. Waste sortingi, to reduce the cost of recycling packaging wastePackaging waste pollution caused by thousands of families, so rely on millions of households with recycling packaging waste. According to the survey research shows that almost all of the nonsense of the solid material resource use good country and city, are put into different categories of waste, separate collection, storage and classification categories, for example, in 1990, Zurich, Switzerland, the amount of waste incineration 205,000 tons in 1995 due to reduced use of the system of separate collection of 156,000 tons, waste recycling increased to 55,000 tons from 32,000 tons; Taiwan, China city, two piece of trash from the cylinder consists of: Blue color for non-combustible waste, red for the combustible waste, classified into the public consciousness. Also used in some specialized agencies, four-color bins: blue for the waste bin, red plastic containers for the waste, green waste glass box, yellow for the scrap metal box. The result for the recovery of packaging waste to provide a convenient, lower costs, reduce their own pollution; Guangzhou municipal solid waste is ready to adopt the classification system, and ready from the “primary” to “high” development. First, the garbage from the current crop of two categories (available and non-use) a gradual transition to “can be recycled,” “can be burned,” “compostable” and “landfill” the four categories. And 1 to 2 years, based on high technology, a large-scale integrated waste sorting center and garbage treatment plants, and set up appropriate regulatory agency.
This article is published for the Guangzhou Social Science Foundation funded research project Author Yanwei Zhao, Yao Zhao, Junhong Fan of Guangzhou University)
