What is car fluff?

Today, about 70% of the recoverable parts of a car are recyclable. However, in addition to these materials, there is the so-called car fluff, i.e. the car parts made of plastics, foams, rubber, glass, coatings, etc.. These components make up about 20% of the vehicle weight and are destined for landfill, although they are recoverable and can be used to produce CSS.

Benefits of car fluff

Car flaff has a high calorific value, which makes it ideal for energy recovery. The ideal way to use it is through heat treatment plants to produce electricity and heat. This investment provides an important solution to the problem of car wrecks.

Furthermore, the production of secondary solid fuels from car wrecks responds to the growing need to find alternatives to dependence on oil and other fossil fuels, in addition to renewable energy, in accordance with the circular issued by the Ministry of the Environment on 27 March 2018, which classifies car wrecks as non-hazardous special waste.

PAL Green Division's actions for car fluff recovery

The plant solutions developed by PAL Green Division for the recovery of materials from the shredding of end-of-life vehicles represent a new landfill concept to reduce environmental impact and achieve greater economic savings.

In particular, PAL Green Division has been working on an innovative plant to clean, separate and screen car wreck waste, which is then pelletised for energy use in cement factories, using the latest technology to obtain high quality material.

L'articolo Il car fluff: da potenziale fonte di inquinamento a risorsa proviene da PAL Green Division.

What is compost and what is its use?

Compost, also known as hummus, is a natural mixture used in agriculture and gardening as a soil fertiliser. It is increasingly being used for its ability to nourish and protect plants and for its sustainability feature - it allows garden waste, vegetable food waste and other organic materials such as packaging, paper and compostable plates to be composted in composting facilities. Compost can also be used for land and water reclamation, habitat restoration and landfill cover. 

The composting process

The process of obtaining compost consists in reproducing, under controlled conditions, the natural biological process of decomposition of the organic matter contained in waste by micro-organisms in the environment. This process allows waste from the production chain to be transformed into a new resource.

Depending on the type of composting, there are three types of compost:

• Fresh, 2 to 4 months; still undergoing biological transformation, rich in nutrients
• Ready, 5 to 7 months; it is stable and the biological activity no longer produces heat; large amount of nutrients
• Mature, 8 to 12 months; soft and rich in humic acids, improves soil structure

The benefits of compost

The benefits of composting process include the absence of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, the recovery (albeit partial) of waste, the positive effects on the soil and the destruction of pathogens through chemical processes.

Compost in the circular economy

But the main advantage of composting, both at household and industrial level, is its fundamental role in the circular economy. The wet fraction, made up of organic matter that tends to decompose and emit gases and liquids, is problematic because of the emission of greenhouse gases and the production of leachate, a liquid that can potentially pollute soil and groundwater. On the contrary, if properly collected and treated, it represents a resource for the production of fertiliser in the form of compost and renewable energy in the form of biogas.

Composting in industrial plants

In industrial plants, compost is produced through a process that reproduces and accelerates what normally occurs in nature. This process takes place under controlled aerobic conditions and allows the decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms, resulting in a biologically stable product.

The process of turning the wet fraction into compost transforms it from a waste into a resource. Organic waste is no longer waste, but a raw material for new production cycles. The starting point is proper waste separation. The result is a product of excellent quality, rich in organic substances and nutrients, which can be used in the agricultural sector, both in floriculture and in soils intended for food crops. In the latter case, the food consumed is "born" from the organic waste transformed into compost, thus closing the circle and starting a new one.

Pal Green Division's activities in the composting sector

The production of quality compost is one of Pal's key areas of expertise. The company offers its customers the best solutions in controlled biological maturation processes, both aerobic and anaerobic. The technologies used enable organic matter to be converted into renewable energy in the form of biogas.

L'articolo Il compost è il futuro dell’economia circolare? proviene da PAL Green Division.

What is separate collection of waste

The separate collection system consists of grouping municipal waste according to its type, i.e. paper, plastic, glass, aluminium and organic fraction. This waste is intended for recycling, so when we talk about separate collection, we are talking about sustainable waste management. 

Materials that are not sorted separately are part of the unsorted waste, e.g. DVDs, cosmetic cases, electric wires, small clothing and stationery. 

Benefits of separate waste collection

Separate waste collection has several benefits, both for the environment and for the consumer's pocket. Recycling makes it possible to convert materials thrown away into new products without using additional energy.

On the one hand, sustainable waste management reduces the amount of toxic materials that end up in landfills, thereby reducing pollution; on the other hand, the reuse of raw materials after recycling allows for significant savings in natural resources and therefore a reduction in pollutant emissions.

Separate collection is also good for the economy. The production of new products from recycled materials reduces energy consumption compared to the production of the same items using raw materials that have never been used before. Finally, the operation of large recycling facilities requires skilled personnel. This creates more jobs, which is also good for the economy.

Tips for waste sorting collection

In order to optimise the separate collection process, it is a good practice to pay attention to the following aspects:

• reduce the volume of the waste so that it does not take up too much space and so that the reader at the recycling plant can identify the plastic material more quickly;
• rinsing dirty bottles and containers to facilitate waste management during recycling;
• separate materials in items made up of several elements.

Sorted waste collection in Italy

Separate collection is increasing in all Italian regions. The national average is 64%, with peaks of 76% and 74% in Veneto and Sardinia respectively. Treviso is confirmed as the most virtuous city, with 88% of waste separated and managed.

PAL Green Division's engagement

Separate collection allows PAL Green Division to act promptly and efficiently in waste treatment through proper plants for converting organic waste into renewable energy. The recycling of glass, plastic and paper allows for the maximization of sorting efficiency and the reduction of waste.

L'articolo Raccolta differenziata: perchè è importante farla nel modo corretto? proviene da PAL Green Division.

The History of Paper

Paper, the successor of papyrus and parchment for written communication, originated in China in the second century AD, then reached the Arab world in 751 AD, and arrived in Europe in the 11th century. Initially considered a low-quality material, its evolution accelerated with the invention of movable type printing at the end of the 15th century. Industrial production began in the 19th century with the development of mass-circulation newspapers and the first novels. 

Paper Manufacturing

The paper manufacturing process occurs in two stages: the preparation of the pulp from debarked wood, which is cut into pieces and treated with chemicals, and the formation of the sheet. To produce one ton of paper, 2 to 2.5 tons of wood are required. 

Recycling paper is essential for several reasons, primarily the reduction of tree felling. Properly recycled paper and cardboard are valuable resources. For example, recovering one ton of cellulosic material saves an average of three trees about 20 meters tall.

The Paper Recycling Process

The paper recycling process starts with separate collection, the responsibility of citizens and businesses. After collection, the waste is stored in recycling centers. Here, the paper is sorted, purified, and directed to subsequent processing stages (pressing, shredding, bleaching, pulping, and screening, which is the removal of impurities from the pulp). The finished product is cellulose pulp. Even the processing waste is reused.

Currently, not all types of paper can be recycled. Newspapers, magazines, notebooks, cardboard, and packaging can be recycled, while waxed, chemical, laminated, and carbon paper cannot.

Advantages of Paper Recycling

The advantages of paper recycling are mainly environmental. The production of recycled paper reduces deforestation, which helps prevent soil erosion, protect biodiversity, and preserve water basins. Additionally, the lower quality of waste to be treated reduces the energy costs of the disposal process, the accumulation of waste in landfills for incineration, and consequently, a substantial reduction in pollution. The production costs of recycled paper are lower than those of wood pulp treatment and are less polluting.

Another advantage of paper recycling is social, as it increases job opportunities in the green economy of the recycling industry.

Paper Recycling in Italy

According to the annual report by Comieco (National Consortium for the Recovery and Recycling of Cellulose-based Packaging), in 2021, Italy ranked first in paper and cardboard recycling, surpassing the 85% recycling rate target set by the UN 2030 Agenda. 3.6 million tons of cellulosic material were collected in the country, with the most virtuous regions being Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, and Valle d'Aosta.

PAL Green Division's Interventions in the Paper Recycling Sector

PAL Green Division also deals with selection, recycling, and industrial reuse, aiming to maximize efficiency in the selection process and reduce waste. Among the projects related to the paper industry, it has managed a waste selection plant for paper, cardboard, and multi-material in Tolentino, in the province of Macerata. The plant currently processes 30,000 tons of material per year, 17,000 of which are paper.

L'articolo Perché riciclare la carta: i benefici per l’ambiente proviene da PAL Green Division.

Causes of Deforestation

Deforestation involves the cutting down of trees at a rate higher than their regrowth. This phenomenon is due to human activities, mostly for commercial purposes.

The main driver of deforestation is agriculture, both subsistence and intensive; the conversion of forests into cultivated land is the primary cause of forest area loss, along with livestock grazing.

In addition to these causes, urban and infrastructural development is the leading cause of deforestation in Europe.

Finally, the demand for precious wood also substantially contributes to the phenomenon, increasing the cutting of trees in equatorial and tropical forests. Additionally, wood remains the primary raw material used as fuel.

Deforestation Worldwide

According to the FAO, between 1990 and 2020, 420 million hectares of forest were lost due to deforestation. These data refer to the Amazon, Congo, and Southeast Asia. In Europe, however, forests have increased by 10%. EU imports are responsible for 16% of global deforestation.

Solutions to Reduce Deforestation

To address the problem of deforestation, it is important to implement a policy of promoting sustainable agriculture, which can exploit smaller areas of land through crop rotation systems. Global planning for the management of forest ecosystems and a series of immediate reforestation actions are useful remedies for the problem.

PAL Green Division's engagement

Among the areas of expertise in which PAL Green Division operates is the sector of recovering waste wood to create new products. The division operates with a Life Cycle Thinking approach, sensitive to new environmental issues and their protection.

L'articolo Disboscamento: quali soluzioni? proviene da PAL Green Division.

What is meant by renewable energy?

When we talk about renewable energy, we refer to energy sources that are not subject to depletion and have a limited environmental impact, which today represent the future of global electricity production. The sources of such energy types are available in nature and regenerate continuously without human intervention, making them virtually inexhaustible energy reservoirs. Technological investments aimed at making the most of renewables allow for continuous product evolution. Electricity from wind, water, the earth's heat, and especially the sun can significantly reduce emission levels. 

Solar Energy

Solar energy can be defined as the mother energy on Earth, as it is essential for natural processes such as photosynthesis and drives almost all forms of energy on the planet. The first step to harnessing energy from the sun dates back to the late 19th century, thanks to the invention of the solar cell, which converted solar radiation into electricity through the physical phenomenon known as the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaics today represent one of the main types of clean energy. 

Photovoltaic Systems

Solar power plants are centered around photovoltaic panels, covered with semiconductor materials such as polycrystalline and monocrystalline silicon, which are sensitive to light and generate electricity when struck by solar radiation. Solar panels are oriented and tilted to maximize light exposure. In a photovoltaic system, the various panels are connected to generate a total power equal to the sum of the panels. The basic element of a photovoltaic system is the cell. Cells form a panel. Multiple panels form a system. Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight into electricity.

Advantages of Photovoltaics

Investing in a photovoltaic system offers numerous advantages. Firstly, photovoltaics is the most versatile and fastest renewable technology capable of responding to the growing emergency caused by climate and geopolitical changes. Relying on fossil fuels raises CO2 levels in the environment and air and increases energy interdependence on producing countries.

Renewable energy from photovoltaic panels, on the other hand, brings the following benefits:

1. Significant reduction in electricity costs
2. Near-zero pollution, with a drastic reduction in CO2 emissions in the environment
3. Renewable and always exploitable energy production
4. Reduced maintenance costs and wear
5. Reduced energy dependence and raw material imports

Photovoltaic Energy in Italy

Data for 2022 show a +165% increase in photovoltaic systems in Italy, the only renewable electricity source to report an increase, although still far from the 2030 Agenda goals. Lombardy holds the lead, followed by Veneto and Emilia Romagna, which are crucial for developing this approach in our country.

PAL Green Division's Interventions in the Photovoltaic Sector

PAL Green Division oversaw the construction of a ground-mounted photovoltaic system for electricity production on the site of the former inter-municipal landfill in Novellara, in the province of Reggio Emilia. The intervention aligns with PAL Green Division's goals, which was established to accelerate the ecological transition process through the development of advanced technologies for the environmental sector.

L'articolo Pennelli fotovoltaici: una risposta alla crisi energetica? proviene da PAL Green Division.